Gandhinagar: Minister of state for prisons Kamlesh Patel said on Sunday that jails in the state are no longer just places for serving punishment, but have evolved into centres of rehabilitation. Patel was speaking at an event in Gandhinagar, where appointment letters were presented to 11 Class I and Class II officers who have been posted in the state’s prisons.“In the present era, prisons are not just institutions of confinement, but spaces for reform and atonement. The newly appointed officers should work with dedication. Not everyone who enters a prison is a born-criminal or someone with an inherently criminal mindset. Often, people are driven towards crime by circumstances. Officers must discharge their duties with humanity and sincerity,” the minister said.The minister said it is equally essential to preserve inmates’ mental health. To help prisoners become mentally strong, prison officers and staff must first develop their own mental resilience and strength, he added.Referring to Sabarmati Central Jail, he said that several small- and large-scale activities such as carpentry, furniture making, and food packaging are being run successfully there by inmates. Such vocational training can help prisoners become self-reliant after their release. He stressed that women inmates, especially those accompanied by innocent children, should be particularly treated with humane and sensitive approach.
