Telephone facility for jail birds introduced in Bangalore

Karnataka Government has introduced a unique telephone facility for inmates of Bangalore Central Jail to get in touch with their families and friends.

Introduced on an experimental basis, the telephone facility will allow the 5,000 inmates of the sprawling jail situated at Parappana Agrahara on the outskirts of Bangalore to make telephone calls once a week for five minutes.

A total of ten telephone booths had been set up in the jail premises, including a separate one for women, besides one each at the hospital and quarantine room.

Karnataka’s Home Minister M P Prakash, who inaugurated the facility, said the jail inmates would have to purchase pre-paid cards to make the telephone calls. “The authorities are not interested in their personal conversations, but all calls will be taped for security reasons. If the facility is used for unlawful purposes, it will be withdrawn”, Prakash said.

He also added that the Government would extend the facility to all other jails in the State if it proves to be successful.

Inspector General of Prisons, Karnataka, Ramesh, told reporters that a majority of the prisoners merely want to speak to kith and kin, relieve their tensions and solve domestic problems.

Prison officials said the telephone facility has brought smiles on the faces of many jail inmates. “Many of them are looking forward to speaking to their children, wives and relatives. They are all just a telephone call away now”, an official said hoping the facility will relieve the inmates of the tension and loneliness.