Home Minister Lekhak vows to transform prisons into industrial village

Kathmandu: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has said that the prisons would not only be transformed into open correction homes but also into an industrial village.

Inaugurating the newly constructed building and facility of the Morang Prison Office on Tuesday, Home Minister Lekhak made it clear that the aim is to modernise the prison and transform it into an industrial village to help inmates make productive use of their time and earn a living.

He said that although there is a mandatory provision to keep the convicted persons in jail by the prevailing legal provisions, the government is sensitive to the human rights of the inmates. Stating that the human rights of all individuals will be guaranteed in a democracy.

Home Minister Lekhak said necessary preparations are underway to address the complaint of prison buildings being fewer compared to the number of inmates and the lack of necessary infrastructure. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Rewati Raman Bhandari, expressed confidence that the newly constructed prison building will provide additional facilities to inmates, clarifying that the government is on the side of human rights along with the proper utilization of inmates’ labour.

The Chief District Officer of Morang, Indradev Yadav, expressed his commitment to address the issues seen in the prison and to treat the inmates appropriately. Lawmaker Amanlal Modi, Province Assembly member Bhim Parajuli, Chief of the Federal Urban Development and Building Construction Office Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Director General of the Central Department of Prisons Narayan Bhattarai expressed their views in favour of the employment and human rights of prisoners.

The Department of Building stated that a total of Rs 361 million and 285 thousand spent for the construction of the newly built prison building. The new building is constructed in the complex of the old District Jail located at Hathkhola in Biratnagar. The prison building can accommodate 218 male and 99 female inmates.

RSS