National Prison Conference urges urgent reforms in India

The first National Prison Conference wrapped up on March 21, focusing on the need for reforms in Indian prisons. Organized by the Prison World Organisation, the event highlighted the importance of hiring psychologists and social workers to support inmates during and after their time in prison. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma opened the conference. He noted that improving prison systems could help lower crime rates and aid former inmates in rejoining society. V.K. Singh, the leader of the organization and former head of Telangana State Prisons, emphasized the need for mental health professionals in prisons. Experts at the conference discussed that at least 25% of prison staff should be mental health specialists. They believe this would improve inmates' psychological health and their chances for rehabilitation. Singh also called for the creation of Prison Development Boards in states that have not established them yet. Rajshekharan from the Bureau of Police Research and Development promised to encourage states to create these boards. The conference also pushed for collaboration between the public and private sectors, involving government agencies, educational institutions, NGOs, and businesses to drive significant changes. Telangana's Director General of Police, Jitendra, attended the closing session and urged participants to take action to improve prison conditions. Over 65 professionals, including former prison directors and academics, contributed to the discussions on rehabilitation. A group is set to be formed after the conference to advocate for necessary changes in the prison system across various states.