Srinagar, February 05: Jammu and Kashmir is among 13 States and Union Territories in India that do not have an exclusive jail for women, according to official data presented in the Lok Sabha.
The data, provided by Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, reveals that Jammu and Kashmir, along with Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and others, lacks dedicated facilities for female prisoners.
Currently, India has 34 exclusive women’s jails, with some states like Rajasthan (7), Tamil Nadu (5), and Kerala (3) having multiple such facilities. However, several regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, continue to house female prisoners in general jails, raising concerns over safety, security, and living conditions.
Prison management and the welfare of women inmates, including those with children, fall under the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) provides support by issuing guidelines. According to MHA, children living with female prisoners must be provided with education, healthcare, food, shelter, and recreational facilities.
The MHA has also circulated the Model Prison Manual 2016, which includes provisions for the care of children residing with incarcerated women-(KNO)
