Inmates,cops break bread on Poila Baishak

“During such events,usually some amount of ration is reduced from the menu of prisoners to provide for the increased food on the occasion. This time the cut was only for a few days since the number of guests was less. Last time when such a gathering was held in the Presidency Central Jail,the diet of prisoners was reduced in small amount one week prior to the programme,” said a jail official.

Sharma said this was a unique opportunity when jail authorities shared the table with inmates and interacted with them. “Today was a special occasion and we decided to celebrate with the prisoners. We shared the same food and also distributed sweets among prisoners,” he added.

The feast was followed by a high-level meeting on many issues from security of jails to the status of undertrial prisoners.

Later a uniform was also decided for the jail superintendents. Since West Bengal does not have uniforms for its jail superintendents,the state correctional services have long been planning to launch its uniform code.

“Since the British period there were no uniforms for the jail superintendents in Bengal. From today,supers of central jails,special jails,correctional homes and district jails will have their uniforms,” said Sharma.