The government has decided to increase facilities being afforded to inmates of jails across the country.

The decision to this effect was made after making 12th amendment to Prison Regulations 2020 two days ago.

According to a release issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government would from now on provide each prisoner with an additional 700 grams of ‘quality’ rice and Rs 45 as daily allowance. The prisoners used to get only Rs 30 as daily allowance in the past. Similarly, the prisoners would get Rs 300 as expenses for Dashai festival every year up from the existing Rs 100.

The government also decided to give 10 meters of clothing and Rs 1000 in cash to every women prisoners during pregnancy. The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare has also disbursed Rs 83,000 to Department of Prison Management to provide facilities to women prisoners.

Similarly, pregnant prisoners would be provided with a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 each for nutrition, starting from the seventh month of pregnancy. Such prisoners will get Rs 2,000 after the delivery and an additional Rs 1,500 for the upbringing of the newborn. The Regulations also provide Rs 2,000 per year to each dependent child below three years of age. Likewise, each mentally retarded prisoners would be provided with medicines worth Rs 6,000 a year.

The government decided to make the amendment in Regulations, increasing the facilities and allowances after prisoners in many jailhouses across the country went on a hunger strike demanding better condition in the prison and increase in facilities. nepalnews.com ag Feb 14 08