Jailhouse rock! Facilities galore, so does crowd

IN Chhattisgarh, the issue of overcrowded jails persists across the 33 prisons, including the five Central jails, amidst the purported growth in "amenities".

-  EJAZ KAISER

There are currently 18,774 inmates (17,989 males + 785 females) occupying these facilities, surpassing the intended capacity of 14,383 in the state.

Despite the construction of eight new jails and renovation of two others since the establishment of Chhattisgarh state in November 2000, managing the congestion remains a formidable challenge. To alleviate the strain experienced in various overcrowded jails, the state has expedited the construction of 58 additional barracks within the existing nine correctional infrastructures, aimed at accommodating an additional 3,000 inmates.