Bangalore Central Jail bursting at its seams

Built for a capacity of 2,100 inmates, the Bangalore Central Jail is virtually bursting at its seams with close to 4,700 prisoners jostling for space not only in the crammed cells, but also for a chance to relieve themselves in the toilets of the jail every morning.

Due to the gross overcrowding of the Bangalore Central Jail at Parappana Agrahara in the City, more than 4,500 male inmates have to wait for an eternity in front of the 230 toilets to avail of their chance to relieve themselves.

Though the close to 200 female inmates of the jail find it relatively easy with 25 women’s toilets, the male inmates face a tough time holding back their bowel movements.

According to officials at Bangalore Central Jail, the prisoners are given one hour to answer their nature’s call every morning. With more than 4,500 male inmates forced to share the 230 toilets, one toilet will be available for every twenty male inmates. “It works out to a mere three minutes in the toilet for every individual. If we extend the time, the other schedules are affected”, a prison official said.

There are a total of 225 toilets in the jail, which have to be shared by all the 4,694 inmates, including convicts and undertrials. With 25 toilets allotted to the 191 women inmates, it is literally a dash to get in the remaining 230 toilets for the 4,503 male inmates, officials said.

The Bangalore Central Jail was built for an ideal capacity of 2,100, but extendable to 2,500. “With the number of inmates reaching 4,694 presently, there is a need for atleast a total of 500 toilets in the jail”, the official said.

Recalling that the toilet ratio for male inmates of the jail was just eight till two years ago, the prison officials pointed out that an average of 60 persons are added to the existing population of the jail every day since the last few months. The overcrowding of the Jail has also led to unhygienic conditions in the toilet, threatening an outbreak of disease.

The barracks of Bangalore Central Jail are no better than its toilets. Each barrack has place for only 210 inmates. But, presently each barrack is crammed with at least 400 inmates. Though each cell is supposed to house four inmates as per the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Bangalore Central Jail has a total of eleven inmates in each cell.

The Government authorities in Karnataka have taken up the construction of new jails in Mysore and Tumkur in the State with a view to resolve the crisis by shifting some of the inmates of Bangalore jail there.