Central jail grapples with problem of staff shortage

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 28

The recent jail break attempt in the Gurdaspur central jail has put the focus back on the grim situation prevalent in the central jails across Punjab. All the central jails have been grappling with shortage of staff and the Amritsar central jail is no exception.

The central jail authorities have written a number of times to higher-ups in this connection, but nothing has been done to strengthen the staff.

If sources are to be believed, the central jail has around 3,500 inmates including foreign nationals, drug smugglers and notorious gangsters. A number of inmates are drug addicts who are getting treatment at the de-addiction centre in the jail itself.

The sources in the central jail said the major problem is shortage of jail warders on the premises. There are a total of 214 sanctioned posts including those of head warder, head matron, warder and matron and out of this there are just 142 employees working at present. There are 64 posts of warders and nine posts of head warders are lying vacant.

Besides the jail staff, there are 13 cops of the Punjab Police, 60 of Pesco, 92 home guards and 23 IRB jawans deputed in the jail for security. The jail authorities had written to the higher authorities to provide more home guards to maintain efficient security.

The shortage of strength has led to a number of loopholes in the security system. “It is very difficult to control such a huge number of jail inmates in case of any misadventure,” said the sources while adding that at certain times, the staff had to take help of inmates with a good record. There are a number of lapses in the construction of the new jail premises.