Special ward for old prisoners in Tihar

At the age of 56, Suresh was charged with murder and attempted murder. He has been in jail for last six years as he was found guilty and sentenced to life in Tihar Jail. Now, he is 62 and is in need of care and support.  

Not only Suresh, there are around 200 convicts languishing in around eight sub jails of Asian largest prison. 

Noticing that older prisoners are a growing group in the jail and not because of a crime wave by senior citizens but more inmates serving long sentences are getting older,  Tihar authorizes have started a special ward – barrack – for them at sub-jail number three where a 120-bedded Central Jail Hospital is there to provide treatment to prisoners.

Convicts above the age of 60 now have an old age ward where they will have young attendants care for them.

“Young boys are deployed in the ward to help these aged inmates. Doctors visit this ward on a day-to-day basis. The aged prisoners require special treatment and this facility will provide that,” said Sunil Gupta, Tihar’s spokesperson.

While the beneficiaries for now consist of only convicts, the helpers will include undertrials as well as those serving sentences. As of now, around 20 such helpers have already been deployed in this ward. They will keep an eye on these senior citizens and help them in their daily needs and with their medicines and treatment.

“As part of the special facilities, these old prisoners will be provided cots to sleep on. Generally inmates at Tihar Jail are provided mattresses which are spread on the floor,” said Gupta. Security personnel will be deputed at the ward round-the-clock to keep an eye on any prisoner who might try to misuse the special facilities.

The need arose after doctors at the prison detected several terminally-ill patients, mostly the aged, who required regular care and treatment. Prison authorities claimed that while doctors managed to save lives of many such prisoners who had just 2-3 months to live, the round-the-clock care could be provided only in a separate facility and by younger inmates.

The number of deaths at Tihar has doubled over a period of one year. While 2012 saw only 18 inmates die, last year 36 lost their lives. Five of these deaths were unnatural, including that of hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru and suicide by December 16 gang rape accused Ram Singh.

Though the others are said to have died natural deaths, jail authorities acknowledge that better medical aid and physical assistance can save lives.

In the meantime, there is tremendous increase of under trial prisoners in the prison. There are 10158 under trial prisoners languishing in the prisons giving tough time to authorities as inmates have increased more double fold as per sanctioned capacity of 6250 inmates.

The jail authorities now are in the process of identifying such under trail prisoners who have already served more than 50 percent of the maximum sentence for the charges against them so that they can help them in getting bail.

ENDS