Visakhapatnam, Jan.28 (RAHNUMA): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi-led Central government is prioritising prison reforms, security upgradation and inmate rehabilitation across the country, with a total allocation of Rs.950 crore under the Prison Modernisation project.
Addressing the two-day 9th National Conference of Prison Officers at Sai Priya Resorts here, the Minister said the focus was on strengthening security infrastructure, including the construction of high-security prisons, while ensuring humane treatment and rehabilitation of inmates. He noted that Rs.101.45 crore has been earmarked for prison modernisation in 2025–26 alone.
The conference was jointly organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and the Andhra Pradesh Prisons and Correctional Services department. BPR&D Director Alok Ranjan, AP Prisons DG Anjani Kumar, Telangana Prisons DG Soumya Mishra, and senior officials from various states attended the event.
Bandi Sanjay said special emphasis must be placed on the ‘care of poor and vulnerable prisoners’, implementation of “Model Prison Manual – 2016”, Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, and effective use of technology such as Aadhaar verification, video conferencing and telemedicine.
Under the Support Scheme for Poor Prisoners, the Centre is allocating Rs.20 crore annually, benefiting 237 prisoners across 16 States and UTs so far. He lauded BPR&D’s role in promoting a reform-oriented and rights-based prison system, noting that since 1997, 701 training programmes have trained 15,875 prison officers.
Though prison administration is a State subject, the Minister stressed the need for Centre–State coordination to build a safe, humane and rehabilitation-focused prison system.
