Jail Visiting Committee has recommended urgent repair and renovation of prisoner wards and improvement of electrical wiring at the District Jail in Kiphire on October 24.
Kiphire, October 24 (MExN): A Jail Visiting Committee has recommended urgent repair and renovation of prisoner wards and improvement of electrical wiring at the District Jail in Kiphire following an inspection on October 24.
The committee, which included senior officials from the prison and legal services departments, also suggested the installation of a European commode in the female ward of the facility.
The committee comprised Neiko Akami, NJS, Member Secretary of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA); K. Hamtok Phom, DIG (Prisons); Solezhol Neikha, Superintendent of Jail, Central Jail Dimapur; and Smt. Holika Sukhalu, NJS, Secretary of the Kiphire District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA).
According to a press release, the panel inspected all sections of the jail premises and interacted with both Under-Trial Prisoners (UTPs) and convicts, addressing their grievances and taking note of infrastructural concerns.
Subsequently, a Legal Awareness Programme was held within the jail premises, chaired by Ayiala Imti, Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC).
In an initiative aimed at inmate rehabilitation, the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Ltd Kiphire Branch donated a new computer set to the jail. The equipment was formally handed over by a bank representative to the Jail authorities through the DIG (Prisons).
The initiative is designed to promote digital literacy and provide vocational training to inmates, equipping them with skills for effective reintegration into society upon their release.
The keynote address was delivered by Holika Sukhalu, who emphasized the importance of reformation and rehabilitation through legal awareness and skill-building initiatives.
Panel Lawyer Limkhushi Thongliu served as the resource person, highlighting key provisions relating to prisoners’ rights and access to legal aid. The session was attended by the 11 inmates currently lodged in the facility.
Addressing the gathering, Neiko Akami, Member Secretary of NSLSA, encouraged the inmates to be aware of their rights and assured them that their concerns had been heard and would be taken up appropriately. He also explained the role of Legal Services Institutions at various levels and commended the efforts of KDLSA in ensuring legal services reach all sections of society.
In his concluding remarks, Akami urged the KDLSA team to continue its dedicated efforts towards ensuring access to justice, rehabilitation, and reformation for those behind bars. He expressed “deep appreciation” to the Nagaland State Cooperative Bank Ltd., Kiphire Branch, for their “generous contribution and continued support to social welfare initiatives.”
The programme concluded with an interactive session where inmates shared their thoughts and experiences.
