Will suspensions bring about a change in the way Colvale Central Jail is managed? Five jail staff have been suspended on Friday over a ‘bhang’ party on Mahashivratri night in the jail. From a bhang overdose to fights and chaos to extreme vomiting, it all happened inside the jail in full glare of those on duty.
Incidents like these are nothing new, just like the suspensions. On October 12, 2015, twenty under trials, including six foreigners were beaten up by jail guards inside the premises. A jailor, Krishna Usgaonkar was suspended in the case. In another case, a notorious gangster, Apshek Bengre was stabbed to death by fellow under trial on July 26, 2016.
The lackadaisical attitude towards jail management is repeatedly on display and it appears that nobody cares. The mess stems from the fact that staff is not trained to handle jails, including the superintendent who is deputed randomly after postings as BDO or deputy collector. A superintendent of jails in Goa comes from the common staff unlike other states where personnel is chosen from the jails cadre. Optionally, due to limitations within the system the State should exercise the option of sourcing staff from outside the state with the required skill level, more specifically the appointment of a superintendent.
Instances like the Bhang binge, exposes the shady side of our jails and their mismanagement. Suspension is just a temporary measures and an eyewash. It’s just a matter of time that those suspended will be reinstated or new personnel posted till then. Nothing will change on the ground. We need to get to the root of the issue. Systemic changes need to be brought about and for that we need staff trained in handling jails.
It was during Elvis Gomes’ term as Inspector General of Prisons in 2015-16 that a team from Academy of Prisons & Correctional Administration, Vellore (APCA) visited Goa at the IGP’s request and submitted a series of recommendations on jail management. Why have these recommendations not followed? Is anybody, including those in power even aware that the easiest way to resolve all such jail-related issues would be follow these guidelines prescribed by the APCA team?
APCA is the first of its kind in India and conducts two types of training programmes viz, Regular and Special Training Programmes for prison and correctional officers. Why does Goa not look in terms of training its manpower in similar institutes rather than settling for a superintendent who has no previous knowledge about jails and opting for staff who have no expertise in jails.
It’s an open secret that with a push of a note or two, one can not only get a bucket full of bhang easily, but also carry utensils with mutton and other delicacies inside the premises and organize the choicest of parties where jail officials also shake a leg. There should be counter mechanisms in place to stop these free-for-all situations. Suspensions will not change our jails, government needs to look beyond that.
