Best practices in the Jails exist in a number of areas broadly related to security, use of technology, staff development, prison management, women prisoners, correctional programmes, community participation and reintegration of offenders.
The jail personnel are trained regularly. Prison officers / personnel are sent to various institutes such as Regional Institute of Correctional Administration, Kolkata, LNJN National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science, New Delhi and other such institutes in the country to undergo different courses like Vertical Interaction Course, Prison Management etc.
Officers have attended the Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrations held in Canada in 2010.
24 Jail Warders have undergone training at Dergaon Police Training College and the training included Identification of Prisoners Act,1920, Probation of offender Act,1958, Juvenile Justice Act,2000 etc.
Manav Sarathi, a voluntary organization, in collaboration with Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and the Instrumentation Department of Gauhati University (GU) opened a training and production centre of electronics goods for the inmates of Central Jail, Guwahati as it is very essential to utilise the human resources confined within the four walls of jail in proper ways. The training will be provided by a group of experts from GU that would go a long way in encouraging the inmates to start life afresh acquiring a new skill. The Director of ASTEC has taken the noble steps to sponsor the programme for the betterment of the jail inmates with great expectation that the training centre would help the inmates earn their livelihood. All necessary help would be extended by the University to this training centre so that it can flourish as a productive venture. The jail authorities have encouraged the organization to open the training centre for the welfare of the inmates in particular and the society in general and assured that all steps would be taken to run the training centre in the future as well.
Best Practices in Vocational Training: Best Practices in Vocational Training:
Vocational Training programme has been imparted under the banner of “Karagaror Pora karikor” (From Prison to Craftsman) in Central Jail, Jorhat by Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Jorhat where “Domestic Electric Wiremen” training is given to the convicted prisoners.
Vocational Training has been recently conducted with the collaboration of Inner Wheel Club, Dibrugarh for the female inmates.
Moreover, in Central Jail, Guwahati, LED bulb making training camp has been started for employment generation.
Most Jails offer employment opportunities for women prisoners, such as training on Tailoring,training on Cutting and Beauty Parlour course and also give them computer education so that they can resume an independent & dignified life after their release from the Jail.
The prisoners are provided with outdoor and indoor games so that they can pass their days with mental peace and free from all kind of mental stress. Carrom, Ludo, Chess, Playing cards, volleyball and football are some of the indoor and outdoor games that are played in the jails of Assam.
Facilities have been provided to the jail inmates to participate in the cultural activities particularly on Independence Day and Republic Day. Cultural programmes on the occasion of Bihu festival etc. are also arranged in some jails.
Walls magazines have been started in many jails where inmates are encouraged to write poetry, essay and articles of their choice. They are also provided facilities to draw & sketch. One Wall Magazine 'KARALIPI' has been inaugurated at District Jail, Mangaldoi on 8th September, 2021 by Inspector General of Prisons, Assam.
A musical school has been started in Central Jail, Guwahati since January 2018 for the prisoners to enhance their musical abilities.
First 'UMOLA GHAR'(Creche) was inaugurated at Central Jail, Guwahati on 14th November, 2019 in collaboration with an NGO SMC’89, Guwahati and one UMOLA GHAR has been inaugurated at District Jail, Barpeta on 29th January,2021 and one UMOLA GHAR has been inaugurated by Inspector General of Prisons, Assam at District Jail, Mangaldoi on 8th September, 2021 for the children of female inmates in collaboration with an NGO SMC'89, One UMOLA GHAR has been inaugurated on 24th September, 2022 at Central Jail, Jorhat in collaboration with NGO SMC'89 and One UMOLA GHAR has been inaugurated by Inspector General of Prisons, Assam at Central Jail, Nagaon on 18-10-2022 in presence of Hon'ble members of SMC'89 and Oil India Ltd. Within the last two years, 14 creches were established in different jails of Assam i.e in 6(six) Central Jails and 8 District Jails. Out of these in 4 Jails, there are initiative of SMC’89 and Oil India Ltd.
The words “Prerona” and “Bota” means “inspiration” and “award” respectively, in the Assamese language. In a first-of-its kind initiative, the Assan Prison Headquarters on 26-11-2021 presented Prerona Bota, 2021 to its employees and staff of jails for exemplary services. The 4(four) officials who received the award for this year are Gajen Chandra Deka, Chief Head Warder, Specil Jail Nagaon; Syed Afsar Ali, Head Warder, Central Jail Guwahati; Swajen Kalita, Warder, District Jail Dhubri and Pabitra Deka, Warder, District Jail Morigaon.
The awards were given at a function held at the Assam Prison Headquarters, Khanapara. The award consists of a phulam gamosa, a bouquet of flowers, a memento and a letter of appreciation. It is for the first time in the history of jails in Assam that such an initiative has been introduced by Assam Prison Headquarters to recognise the dedicated works of the officials.“PRERANA BOTA” 2022 was awarded to 5(five) nos of Jail Officials for their outstanding service
On 10th December, 2021, for the first time in the history of Assam Prisons, an "Ashirbad Anusthan" has been organised in Jails of Assam of the State.It is a reformatory step meant to encourage children of convicts who are preparing for matriculation exams of both state and CBSE boards.The main objective of the programme was to organise a get-together of the examinees with their convict parents and seek their blessings for the upcoming examinations.This provides a moral and cultural boost for the children.
During its first conclave on 10th December 2021 (International Human Rights Day), a total of 80 children (students) were felicitated and blessed by their convict parents and prison authorities in presence of eminent scholars, judicial officers and other dignitaries, throughout the different prisons of Assam. Shri Niraj Verma, Principal Secretary, Home & Political Department, Government of Assam graced the first conclave as the Chief Guest in Central Jail, Guwahati.
The students who were present on the occasion, were each gifted a kit containing a dictionary, school bag, pen, pencil and other articles. All the senior Prison officials and parents blessed the examinees for their ensuring exams and appreciated the noble initiative taken by the Assam Prison Headquarters. The students got ecstatic upon getting the opportunity to meet and seek the blessings of their convict parents in the jail in such a unique manner. The convict parents also thanked the prison authorities for the great initiative, adding that such programmes would boost the morale of people serving jail terms.
During its Second conclave in December 2022, a total of 40 children (students) were felicitated and blessed by their convict parents and prison authorities in presence of eminent scholars, judicial officers and other dignitaries, throughout the different prisons of Assam.
Ashirbad Anusthan 2023 was organized in various Jails to bless the wards of jail inmates who are going to appear in the ensuing Class X board examinations. A total of 31 candidates sought the blessings of their parents, was gifted study materials and shared a meal with their parent.
In every Jails of Assam “Clean and Green Prison” initiative has been conducted by Plantation of medicinal plant, flower garden and other valuable plant.
A new initiative “Clean and Green Programme” in the jails of Assam was launched on 5th July, 2021 in compliance of the theme: “Ecosystem Restoration” of the World Environment Day, 2021, in mission mode where 50(fifty) medicinal plant and 50(fifty) fruit plants were planted in Jails of Assam alongwith green fencing in the open areas outside the prison premises. Also, Aloe Vera, Neem, Tulsi etc. plantation were carried out during the Clean & Green Programme.
On the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Chief Minister's Institutional Plantation Programme was implemented in the month of July in all the prisons of Assam, along with Assam Prison Headquaraters.
It is a plantation and rehabilitation initiative in collaboration with Studio Nilima, an NGO. “Seeds for Change” is an economic rehabilitative integration program for inmates of the correctional homes built through a collaborative partnership between Studio Nilima, a local nursery and the district jails of Assam. “Seeds for Change” in District Jail Morigaon has been inaugurated on 5th June, 2022 by “Studio Nilima” and this kind of initiative has been taken to extend in other prisons also by providing training, expertise, and material to the inmate population to build a jail garden, the project stands to facilitate a pathway for inmates’ economic reintegration into society.
Basic Education is imparted in Jails of Assam by Jail teachers who provide functional literacy to illiterate Prisoners in jails where there are no Jail teachers, education is imparted by the educated prisoners. Jails of Assam also facilitate those candidates who have aspiration of higher education through IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) and KKHSOU(Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University). Apart from this Computer Education has also started in 4 nos of prisons.
Sustainable Rehabilitation of Inmates in Jails of Assam (New) – SRIJAN – is a step forward to create employability, rehabilitation framework and provision of financial assistance to the inmates by providing necessary training and exposure to MSMEs/Start-ups for offering post-release settlement and livelihood opportunities to freed inmates, as well as generation of revenue to State Exchequer from prison produce. It was conceived as the prison infrastructure, skill and education program, and prisons management needed structural reforms to be at par with other progressive states. As the first step, a retail outlet was inaugurated in the Assam Prisons Headquarters premises, to sell prison produce like cane and bamboo handicrafts, weaving products etc.
1. Umola Ghar: It is a creche facility for children of female inmates. Within the last two years, 14 creches were established in different jails of Assam.
2. Gyan Safura: These is a separate library for women prisoners of Central Jail, Guwahati (inaugurated on 17th February, 2022)
3. Project Nirmal: It was initiated in collaboration with Assam State Legal Services Authority to provide vending and incinerator machines in six central jails and two district jails of Assam on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, 2022.
4. Hospital for female inmates: A separate 10-bedded hospital for female inmates was established in the Central Jail, Jorhat, and also, a 10-bedded mental wing for female inmates has been completed in Central Jail, Tezpur.
1. National Flags were produced by inmates in different jails of Assam to aid the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. These flags were also sold to public in the retail outlet of Assam Prisons Headquarters.
2. CCTV Installation has been completed in 25 jails of Assam and work is going on in other 6 jails.
3. Transgender Ward in District Jail, Morigaon is nearing completion stage, and a similar ward is under progress in Central Jail, Guwahati. Meanwhile Govt. has approved transgender ward for Dist. Jail Abhayapuri and Kokrajhar.
4. Assam Prison Academy is going to be established in Assam so that Jail personnel will undergo training in their service period.
5. For the first time in Assam Prison, Arm Badge is introduced for uniformed Prison Officials from the rank of Jailor to the rank of Warder with the logo “Assam Prisons” along with “Custody with Care” inscribed on it.
6. Ration Bhatta for the Prison Warders has been enhanced from Rs.1200/- to Rs.2000/-.
7. Total 25 convicts have been released on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 3 phases. In addition in the year 2022 and 2023, 85 and 62 lifer convicts were granted remission respectively.
