The Committee has initiated Open Air Prison Project to work towards a rehabilitative model of incarceration. The Open-Air Prison systems is a pioneering concept in Rajasthan that aims to facilitate the social readjustment of eligible convicted prisoners. These prisoners are sent to open-air camps where they can learn self-dependence through lawful means of livelihood and social interaction. In these camps, prisoners are allowed to live in self-sustaining units with their families, providing them with an opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones and engage in agricultural and manufacturing activities to generate a source of income.
While these camps are a commendable step towards social readjustment, it is important to ensure that it is being implemented in a manner that truly benefits the prisoners and empowers them to lead a reformed life which is the motivation behind this initiative proposed by the Committee. The Committee has been undertaking the program in the Prisoner’s Open Camp located in Mandore, Jodhpur. This project is designed to tackle social problems which act as a hindrance in adequate rehabilitation and reformation. One is the lack of constitutional literacy among both adults and children in prison. The Constitution of India guarantees several fundamental rights which ensure the dignity of the people.
Undergoing the process of incarceration greatly impacts the sense of dignity and self of individuals and it is pertinent that the prisoners in these systems along with their family as apprised about the constitutional values and rights protecting their dignity. An empowerment program in an open-air prison is required to inform the inmates about their rights and how to access them, thereby empowering them to become better advocates for themselves and their families. Moreover, legal aid services are also essential for prisoners to receive access to justice. Though presently only convicted prisoners stay in open prisons, they require legal services related to parole rejection, higher bond amount, transfer to another state or another district and similar issues. Legal aid camps would be set up in the Prisoner’s Open-Air Camp to identify the key legal issues and then undertake the measures necessary for helping the prisoners with their legal issues.
Recently, the Committee-members visited the prison to evaluate the literacy level and knowledge of the inmates. Post the discussion with the inmates, the Committee has decided to take up small upliftment and upscaling activities for the 27 inmates. These inmates have specific needs of their own due to the diverse gender, class and economic index. Further, the Committee conducted an individual surveys to find out the individual needs of the inmates and has been trying to provide resources that will be subjective to each individual.
It is our sincere hope to expand this project to not just the open-air prison system in Jodhpur but also to other open-air prisons across India. Additionally, considering that only a few states have employed this concept, we fervently hope to also encourage other states to gain inspiration from this concept as a means of restitution and rehabilitation.
