Lucknow Model Jail shift may push prisoners’ families to the brink

But with the state government’s order to shift the jail and Nari Bandi Niketan to a deserted location in Mohanlalganj,20 kms from the main city,their livelihoods are at stake. The jail is being shifted to spare the 88 acres of land,on which the government wants to build an eco park.

The new jail complex is coming up fast and the process of shifting began on Monday,with four loaded trucks being shifted to a new building.

The new jail may boast of many facilities. But it has no market for the goods and services provided by the inmates. The area is cut off and has no one living around for at least 5 km. The current location of the model jail is near the Charbagh Ashiana Colony,Alambagh and Cantonment. And people passing through the area often stop for a cup of tea or to buy the wares sold by the inmates.

Of the money they earn daily,the prisoners deposit Rs 6.50 for their meals and 15 per cent is deposited in the account of their victim’s family.

The rest is deposited in their personal account maintained by the jail — which goes to their families.

The money they earn is substantial — some of them have even been able to marry off their daughters with it.

There are 22 shops around the Model Jail run by the prisoners selling refreshments,and services like tailoring,puncture repair and PCO. As many as 72 prisoners go to work in the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research farm,where they get a wage of Rs 135 per day.

It was the vision of former chief minister Dr Sampurnanand to enable prisoners to reform through regular interaction with the world outside. The jail is actually the old Central jail of Lucknow,which was converted to the Model Jail in 1949 on the recommendation of the Jail Reform Committee of 1946. The stress was on rehabilitation and gradual liberation of prisoners and certain structural changes were made in the old Central Jail to suit the needs of the new idea.

The Model Jail lives up to its name by its meticulous order: a warder is responsible for each group of five prisoners who are shopkeepers and keeps a watch on the business around the jail area.

One day a week,a list of raw materials is drawn up and the warders escort the prisoners to the market to purchase inventory. The closeness of the market is another advantage.

Aspiring to be in the Model Jail,prisoners conducted themselves accordingly. And they were selected from across the state to be a part of the Model Jail.

But that vision now seems challenged as nobody wants to be in a jail that is isolated. And no one,it appears,is ready to bring up the issue before the state government.

Inspector General (Prisons) Sulkhan Singh said: “The prisoners who are working in the fields of IISR will be ferried there from the new building in a government bus”. The shops would also be shifted to the new jail premises. “If their business fails,we will look for other options for their earnings,” he added.

ga Prasad
Sentenced in a murder case in 1995
Prasad runs a food stall near the jail premises. He was transferred to the Model Jail from the Allahabad Central Jail for good conduct in 1997. He brought his family — wife and three children—- to Lucknow. His eldest son Vipin helps him run the shop.

“I send part of my earnings to my family. But once the jail is shifted I doubt if I will be able to earn anything. I am thinking of sending my family back to Mirzapur.”

Vinay Singh
Convicted for murder in 1993
Singh gives major part of his earning from his PCO to his wife Archana,who lives with their two children in a rented house in Krishna Nagar. After their marriage in 2006,he had brought his wife to Lucknow.

“My family depends totally on my earnings. The new location of the jail may hit us badly.”

Mohammad Jabir
Convicted for murder almost 20 years ago
Jabir,who runs a tea shop,has six children including two girls of marriageable age. His eldest son Amir is a tailor. His second son Nasir helps him in the business.

“I need money to run the family. If business does not run we would all be doomed.”

Radhey Shyam Pandey
Convicted for murder in 1993
An expelled policeman,Pandey has his parents and wife to support. He runs a tea shop. He has already conveyed to his family in Gonda that it would not be possible for him to send money any more.

“Since I am the sole earner,I have to take care of them. I have asked my relatives to help me.”

Raj Kumar Gupta
Convicted for murdering his wife
The oldest prisoner of the Model Jail,he has been here for 22 years. He runs a paan shop and his nephew helps him.

“After the death of my brother,I have to take care of his two daughters and son. I married off one of mmy nieces. I’m setting aside money for the weding of the other too.”

Raj Kumar Rastogi
Convicted for the murder of his wife
Rastogi,who runs a tailoring shop,made maximum contribution for the wedding of his daughter Ekta. He had married again as well. His wife Shashi Prabha,is a school teacher.

“I supported my daughter for her graduation out of my earnings,though my second wife also pitched in. My son works in a private company.”