Panaji, June 18: The Aguada Central Jail that once attracted criticism by the Mumbai High Court for major human rights violations, is experiencing a major transformation.The Goa Government has initiated a two-in-one strategy that intends to not only breath in new fresh air for the prisoners but even provide them incentive of decreased sentence for work while battling the menace of plastic and thus safeguarding the environment.The Government is intending to implement a novel scheme wherein an inmate who will make one thousand paper bags will have a couple of days reduced from his sentence and will also be paid for his labour. IG prisons and North Goa Collector Sanjeev Khirwar has declared that this novel scheme is already in operation and NGOs' like the People's Movement for Civic Action and St Anthony's Boys Home are actively helping the government in this move. This scheme means an increase of Rs 21,15 and 12 rupees wages per day depending on the skills of the inmates.Speaking to this correspondent, Khirwar said the formation of the scheme is in the final stages of completion and has appealed to major industrial houses to donate computers, as a computer-literacy programme for the inmates is being planned. He also said a well-equipped library has been put up with literary works on major languages, and other good books on various other subjects.This was fallout of a writ filed by one inmate Sharma from UP, alleging that he was not given access to books sent to him by prominent authors including Kiran Bedi. Khirwar further said there was no objection for making available any book as prescribed in the Jail Manual to the inmates.The government intends to use the proceeds of the sale to start the Goa Prisoners' Welfare Society for the recreation and rehabilitation of the inmates. The government has modified the Rule No. 19(3) of Goa Daman & Diu Visiting Rule, 1968 to facilitate the free entry of NGOs in the jail.Predictably, the prisoners belonging to the fairer sex have quickly utilised the scheme as compared to the males. Records indicate that two female convicts and seven undertrials have already made five thousand paper bags after the scheme was implemented.
