884 female inmates in Punjab jails
There are at least 884 women prisoners in 43 jails across Punjab. The highest number is Adiala Jail, where 139 female inmates are confined.
According to official data, currently there are 50,527 male and 884 female inmates in Punjab jails.
IG Prisons Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig said while speaking to The Express Tribune that arrangements have been made to provide facilities to women prisoners in the jails. He said special care is taken for the education and training of the prisoners.
Apart from formal education they are given diplomas in various skills, including sewing, embroidery, computer and other fields with the help of the Technical Education and Vocational Authority (TEVTA) and other institutions.
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Several NGOs are also working with the department of prisons for the welfare of the women incarcerated in jails of Punjab. Training courses have also been arranged for girls, including fashion designing.
Baig said that women prisoners are kept separate from other inmates and the system for sale of handicrafts made by the prisoners in the jails has been improved. In the last five years, handicrafts made by prisoners have been sold for more than Rs80 million. More than 21,000 prisoners from across Punjab have earned Rs87.6 million through the sale.
The inmates made 18 types of items, including woollen carpets, blankets, cut boxes, side lockers and other furniture goods, which were sold in the markets. The inmates made the highest profit of over Rs 20 million in the textile sector. All the money earned by the inmates has been deposited in the national treasury.
The authorities have also decided to contact the families of the poor and juvenile inmates and arrange their phone calls with their families once a week. For the facility, two numbers will be taken from the families of the prisoners and they will be allowed to contact their families once a week on them.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2021.