With the pandemic posing a potent threat, central prison authorities in Dharwad have adopted the South Korea model for visitors to meet prisoners, providing hi-tech, safe and secure facilities.
Until now, family members and friends of all prisoners met in a 10x10ft room near the east gate. This invariably led to overcrowding. To protect inmates against Covid-19, authorities decided to deck up the meeting area on the lines of the South Korean model. The refurbishment cost Rs 18 lakh.
The new facilities, installed on directions from the Supreme Court, include a bulletproof glass between visitor and inmate, intercoms, scanners to check bags of visitors, and CCTV cameras to monitor the area where inmates sit. Besides, details of inmates entering the visitors’ room are recorded by a machine.
MA Marigouda, prison superintendent, said earlier, it was difficult for family members and inmates to converse since all were gathered in the same area. Also, visitors were restricted after the pandemic hit. “So, we adopted this model. At present, inmates can talk to relatives and friends without fear of contracting Covid-19. A high-tech scanner has been installed at the entrance to check bags of relatives,” Marigouda said.
The prison currently houses about 500 inmates. Prisoners are allowed to talk with relatives once every 15 days between 11am and 1pm and 4pm to 6 pm, Marigouda said.
