BCJ teaches a lesson in democracy

VADODARA, Dec 27: The dictionary definition of a jail as a penitentiary may soon become archaic if the Baroda Central Jail has anything t...

VADODARA, Dec 27: The dictionary definition of a jail as a penitentiary may soon become archaic if the Baroda Central Jail has anything to do with it. Moving far from the stereotypical gloom of the Indian jail, the BCJ is replicating a sanitised society within its four walls.

Though its cottage industries have already received their due share of newsprint, not many know that BCJ is one of the few jails in the country to encourage the principles of democracy by conducting elections to a five-member jail panchayat.

Introduced in 1969, the elections allow the prisoners to have an organisation of their own. An additional woman convict is elected to the panchayat exclusively by woman undertrials and convicts.

Though modelled on free societal organisations, the jail panchayat has no chief and no office-bearers with designated jobs. Rather, each member 8212; called a sevak 8212; independently carries out the administrative duties assigned by the jail authorities. They8217;re generally delegated mess or canteen work to ensure that quality, hygienic food was available to prisoners, according to Jail Superintendent Ramniwas Meena.

Because of the nature of their work, sevaks are also allowed access to all parts of the jail. Expectedly, there are some elements who misuse the freedom granted to them, though, by and large, the authorities say, the system has helped in maintaining discipline and checking jail-breaks. 8220;If a sevak creates a problem, he is immediately disqualified and stripped of his duties8221;, says the jail8217;s deputy superintendent A B Makwana.

Because of the risk factor, only convicts who8217;ve spent a minimum time in jail three years for those serving life terms and one year for others and have good behaviour records can contest the elections, says Meena.

In yet another telling reflection of outside society, contestants, too, use all the tricks up their sleeve to woo votes. They distribute biscuits, roasted groundnuts, tobacco and bidis among convicts, Meena says, adding, though, that to minimise the play of money power, the polls are held in the last week of the month, by which time prisoners have already spent most of their earnings.

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A few days before the polls, a general circular is issued, but the prisoners are given only a day for canvassing and the elections are held on the evening of the same day. Unlike other elections, the candidates get to choose their symbols.

When asked if the elections ever polarised the convicts or led to law and order problems, Meena says nothing of the sort has happened so far. Vacancies caused by the release of sevaks, he adds, are filled by defeated candidates with the largest number of votes.