The human rights watchdog, after monitoring the situation of central jail and jails in Parsa, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Sunsari, Myagdi, Solukhumbu and Khotang districts, wrote letters to the Office of Prime Minister, Home Ministry and Prison Management Department on Sunday to draw their attention to the current situation of the jails and jailbirds."The commission has urged the Office of Prime Minister and concerned authorities to improve the infrastructures at jails that are in sorry state. Prisoners have been living in fear after the devastating earthquake last month that has left the jailhouses in dilapidated state," stated a press release issued by NHRC Acting Secretary Bed Prasad Bhattarai.
The NHRC has urged the government to build new facilities and immediately renovate the old buildings. The commission has also urged the government to provide reparations to the families of prisoners who died in the earthquake.
Meanwhile, the commission has asked the government to increase the ration and other allowances for prisoners and children dependent on them. Currently, jailbirds get Rs 45 per day while the children dependent on them are get Rs 10 per day.
The NHRC has also urged the government to monitor the jails periodically and make arrangements to provide vocational trainings to prisoners. It has also asked the government to make arrangements for medical test for the prisoners.
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