PANAJI
With almost 46 per cent of the undertrials spending 1-3 years in the prison thereby overcrowding it, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed Goa government to identify poor prisoners, who are unable to secure bail or release from prison due to non-payment of fine owing to financial constraints.
In a communication to all States including Goa, the Ministry has asked the State to provide financial assistance from a Central fund under the scheme “'Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme 2023”. The Ministry has also pulled up the States for failure to implement the scheme despite repeated directions.
According to the India Justice Report 2025, the jail crowding in Goa is around 102 per cent and the proportion of undertrial population spending 1-3 years has increased in Goa from 34 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent in 2025. Also, in Goa nearly half the undertrial population had spent between 1-3 years in detention.
"As you are aware, the Ministry of Home Affairs had introduced the 'Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme' in May, 2023, with the objective of providing financial assistance to States and UTs for extending relief to poor prisoners who are unable to secure bail or release from prison due to non-payment of fine on account of financial constraints," the communication said.
However, the MHA said, despite repeated follow-up, funds have remained unutilised as many States and UTs have not identified the eligible prisoners and have not provided the benefit of the scheme to them. While a few States and UTs have utilised the funds, the overall implementation of the scheme by them has not been very encouraging, it said.
The MHA said that during the several conferences held with the States and UTs to review the implementation of the scheme, its importance was consistently emphasised, highlighting its potential to bring relief to the poor prisoners who remain incarcerated due to financial constraints.
“The States and UTs are, therefore, requested to make concerted efforts in identifying eligible prisoners as per the guidelines of the scheme and in holding regular,” the Ministry said adding that the effective implementation of the scheme will help in reducing overcrowding in the prisons.
The MHA has already issued guidelines and a standard operating procedure for the implementation of the scheme.
As part of the guidelines, States and UTs are advised to constitute an 'empowered committee' in each district and an 'oversight committee' at the State headquarters level. According to the guidelines, these committees are responsible for sanctioning financial aid to the eligible prisoners.
"It may be appreciated that effective implementation of the scheme can not only help mitigate the problems faced by the poor prisoners, but also contribute towards reducing overcrowding in prisons.
