Agartala, July 16: Inmates in the state's correctional home and jails need to be given greater opportunities for sports and skill development training to promote their mental well-being, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha said.
Skill development training will enable them to take up various jobs and earn a livelihood after completing their sentences. Attention must also be paid to the subsequent lives of those who, after completing their sentences, have been released and returned to the mainstream of society.
The Chief Minister said this today at a meeting held on the reforms and modernization of the Central Correctional Home and the state's jails, at the conference hall of TIFT.
At the meeting, the Chief Minister said that proper attention must also be given to matters such as adequate nutrition and medical care of prison inmates. Taking part in the discussion at the meeting were Prisons Minister Santana Chakma, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of State Police Anurag.
Secretary of the Prisons Department Brijesh Pandey presented detailed information on the number of inmates in the Central Correctional Home and other jails, and the arrangements made for their food, medical care, access to books and newspapers, and sports facilities.
He also briefed the Chief Minister in detail on the infrastructure development and modernization of the jails. Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department Abhishek Singh, IG (Prisons) Asim Saha, along with officials from various related departments were also present.
Digital facilities expanded:
The Tripura Prison Department has significantly expanded the use of video conferencing for court hearings, enabling inmates to appear before courts remotely and improving the efficiency of judicial proceedings.
During a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Prison Department Secretary Brijesh Pandey said the department has undertaken several major reform initiatives over the past few years.
He said video conferencing facilities have been extended to 86 courts linked to the state's 12 prisons. As part of the initiative, 90 dedicated video conferencing cubicles have been installed across the prison system.
Between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2026, a total of 32,750 court appearances by prison inmates were conducted through video conferencing, making the process of producing inmates before courts more efficient while reducing logistical challenges.
Pandey also informed that the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0 has been successfully implemented in all prisons across the state. Integrated with the e-Prisons 2.0 platform, the system is being operated by prison staff and ensures seamless digital coordination between prison authorities and other agencies involved in the criminal justice system.
He said details of inmates, including their names, addresses, personal information, case records, current status, Case Number Record (CNR), FIR number, fingerprints, Jail Identification Number (JID) and Prisoner Identification Number (PID), are being regularly uploaded to the e-Prisons portal, enabling better record management and improved digital governance within the prison administration.