CG inmates get the facility of Audio-Video calls within jail
Inmates get the audio-video calling facility in jails
Raipur | Correspondent: Under a significant agreement between the prison administration and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a 'Video and Audio Prison Calling System' is now installed across all the 33 prisons present in the state.
With this new technology, now the inmates will be able to converse with their family members or lawyers over the phone and will have both audio and video facilities.
Initiated at the behest of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Jails, Vijay Sharma, the primary objective of this scheme is to alleviate the mental stress experienced by incarcerated prisoners and to ensure they remain socially connected.
Currently, audio calling facilities are available in only 17 of the state's jails; however, this service is now being expanded to upgrade all correctional facilities with high-tech capabilities. With security considerations in mind, it has been explicitly stipulated that inmates will be permitted to contact only those phone numbers that have been previously registered and verified.
Regarding the charges for this service, a rate of one rupee per minute has been fixed for audio calls, while video calls will be charged at five rupees per minute. Each inmate will be permitted to speak for a duration of up to five minutes, once per week.
A noteworthy feature of this initiative is that prisoners currently serving their sentences will be able to cover the cost of this service using the remuneration they earn from the work they perform within the prison. The Prison Administration anticipates that direct communication with their families will foster positive behavioral changes among the inmates and lead to a reduction in instances of depression within the correctional facilities.
