Our Correspondent
Kiphire | March 28
Absence of basic infrastructure at District Jail Kiphire has officers and staff of the correction and rehabilitation centre facing much inconveniences. The jail inmates and visitors, too are equally affected, due to lack of even a visiting room where they can get together.
The Kiphire Jail also has no separate office of its own and has been operating in a make shift room since its establishment in the year 2010. Besides, the institution does not have sufficient quarters for the staff, thus placing them under constant stress.
The structure of the jail which was constructed in the late 80s, a source informed, has not seen any repair or renovation since. The already weak structure is putting the officials and staffs under more stress.
Security lighting system is also not ample. A transformer for adequate power supply is pertinent for an institution like prison as most of the functioning is dependent on power supply. But it is missing.
It was learned that the government had already sanctioned funds to procure a transformer years back; however, the establishment is yet to receive it. The establishment remains clueless as to where the sanctioned fund has vanished.
As per a jail official, the Kiphire jail has no separate cells for female prisoners causing inconveniences in the event of the arrival of female inmates. This matter has already been highlighted to the higher authorities by the establishment, it added.
The official also disclosed that there is no separate kitchen for prisoners. At present, an isolation cell is functioning as a kitchen, causing a lot of inconveniences.
It was informed that the establishment has also highlighted this issue to higher authorities but nothing concrete has been initiated so far.
According to reports, the land earmarked for the Kiphire prison is more than the present 3.4 acres, but the land has been heavily encroached due to lack of fencing. To protect the remaining land from further encroachment and also for security, there is need for proper fencing, a staff pointed out.
Adding more woes, the jail does not have proper security fencing – a basic requirement for any jail to be well secured. There is also only a single entry and exit gate. Jail officials are also considering setting up a library for the inmates. However, for this to materialize, they need contributions from well wishers, the official rued.
The only positive activity that the prisoners are presently engaged in is ‘morah’ making, the official added.
