Indian jails get tech boost but overcrowding remains a pressing issue

Speedier justice system needed with 77% of prison population being pre-trial detainees

- Rohini Mohan

Prison modernisation reforms got off to a quirky start at a major prison in the westIndian state of Maharashtra with the roll-out of nine washing machines for its inmates.

But beyond relieving inmates of having to wash their clothes by hand, advocates say India needs an express cycle for its justice system to clean out the problem of overcrowding in prisons.

Besides the washing machines piloted at the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune and plans to install them in all 60 jails in the state, Maharashtra's prison reforms also include ekiosks for prisoners to check their court hearing dates, status of bail or parole, cash balances and visitation schedule.

Officials say that seemingly simple improvements such as washing machines took decades to implement due to a lack of funds and political disinterest in prisoner welfare.

Prison administration is the responsibility of state governments under the Indian federal system, but is "not a high priority", said retired police officer Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who led Maharashtra's state prison department from 2012 to 2015.

"The whole system - from entry into prison to court attendance, hospital admissions, release on parole or furlough and so on - needs streamlining; so should the booking of meetings with visitors and families. Technology is needed in a big way for transparent and corruption-free administration," said Ms Chadha Borwankar.

"Due to repeated lapses exposed by the media, governments are investing more in prison technology," she added.