Efforts should be made to make the thinking of prisoners positive: Governor Patel

Bhopal : Governor Mangubhai Patel has said that prisoner rehabilitation efforts should be done in a holistic and multidimensional manner. The approach to work should be humanistic. It is important to be emotional and thoughtful. He said that rehabilitation efforts should also focus on building positive thinking. Prime Minister’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program to give constructive direction to the thinking of prisoners. It will be very helpful in strengthening confidence and self-confidence towards the future.

Governor Patel was discussing with officials of Home and Jail Department at Lok Bhavan on Monday. On this occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Home Shiv Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary to the Governor Dr. Navneet Mohan Kothari, Special Director General Jail Akhito Sema and other officers were present.

Governor Patel told the officials to combine planning activities with the aim of providing economic support to the families of prisoners through productive activities. He said that not only punishing the undertrials for minor crimes in jails but also sending them back into the mainstream of society through positive reform should be the foundation of rehabilitation efforts. The intention should be to help them free themselves from the identity of criminals and establish themselves as better citizens. They can play an active role in the re-construction of the society.

Governor Mangubhai Patel said that by listening to the program ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the prisoners living a lonely life behind the jail walls will get an opportunity to connect with the progress and inspiring stories of the country. There will be an infusion of optimism and innovation in their lives. There will be a reduction in the negativity hidden within the prisoners. Positive attitude and feeling of self-improvement will awaken. He discussed about mercy petitions pending in jails, arrangements for proper upbringing of children of women prisoners, rehabilitation of women prisoners, availability of necessary artificial devices for disabled and elderly prisoners and employment of labor force in productive activities.

Additional Chief Secretary Home Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that 18 mercy petitions received in the year 2025-26 are being examined at various levels of the process. All the mercy petitions received by the Jail Department in the last five years are being examined. Standard operating procedure is also being prepared by the department for their quick resolution. He said that the jail department has taken the innovative initiative of telecasting the online program of Geeta recitation in the jails of the state, which is watched by 11 lakh people from 180 countries. In the weekly broadcast, the correct pronunciation of the verses of Gita and the meaning of the verses are explained.