Chandigarh, May 7: Amid the second Covid wave, Jail Minister S. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today ordered stringent security arrangements in the jails besides adherence to Covid safety protocols. The Minister was conducting a check about the ground realities in Faridkot and Muktsar jails.
Pointing out further, S. Randhawa expressed satisfaction at the medical facilities including vaccination, masks and sanitization being provided in all the jails of the State. He also said that there are a total of 23502 inmates in the 25 jails of Punjab. "The Jail Department has conducted 60000 tests since the pandemic raised its ugly head and out of these 3294 inmates have reported positive", revealed S. Randhawa adding that at present 650 prisoners incarcerated inside the jails are Covid positive and 5813 inmates (5353 male and 460 female) with more than 45 years age have undergone vaccination.
The Minister also elaborated that 2408 jail employees have also been vaccinated and 24-hour medical services have also been ensured for the inmates. Besides the Principal Secretary Health Hussan Lal has been asked to ensure 50 oximeters each for big and 15 each for small jails.
Divulging more, S. Randhawa said that in view of the Covid crisis, the jail department has reserved District jail Ludhiana, Moga jail and Special jail Bathinda for male inmates reporting positive while Malerkotla jail has been kept reserved for women inmates contracting Covid. He further said that so far, 1 lakh masks have been distributed in the jails and the entire jails especially the barracks have been sanitized. The meeting of the inmates with their family members is arranged through e-Prison or WhatsApp Video call.
Taking stock of arrangements in Faridkot and Muktsar jails, the Minister said that the senior officials of the department would also conduct checking in other jails. He also said that he would emphatically take up with the higher authorities the issue of vaccination for 18-45 age group inmates and get it started soon.
S. Randhawa also directed the officials to resolve the issue pertaining to the lack of potable drinking water in Muktsar jail within 2 days.
On the visit to Faridkot jail, the Minister was accompanied by DC Vimal Kumar Setia, DIG Prisons Tejinder Singh Maur, SSP Swarandeep Singh, SDM Poonam Singh, and Jail Superintendent Manjit Singh Tiwana.
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During the checking of Muktsar jail, S. Randhawa was accompanied by ADC Gurvinder Singh Sarao, SSP D. Sudarvilli and Jail Superintendent Iqbal Singh Brar.