Maharashtra’s 60 jails are grappling with severe overcrowding, housing 39,527 prisoners against a capacity of 27,184—an excess of 12,343 inmates, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revealed. In a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Fadnavis, also the Home Minister, highlighted that Mumbai Central Jail holds 3,268 prisoners, triple its 999 capacity.

To address the crisis, the state is constructing new jails and adding barracks to existing facilities, aiming to accommodate 17,110 more prisoners. The 'Support to Poor Prisoners' scheme provides financial aid for bail or fines to economically disadvantaged inmates, while the District Legal Service Authority and NGOs offer free legal services.

Of the total prisoners, 6,003 are illiterate, including 5,067 undertrials. Educational programs target younger inmates (18-30 years), with vocational courses offered through Yashwantrao Chavan Open University and Indira Gandhi National Open University. The government has also partnered with Samata Foundation, Azim Premji Philanthropic Trust, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences to support prisoner rehabilitation.

Also Read: Maharashtra MLA’s Canteen Slap Sparks Outrage

The Bombay High Court has flagged the alarming staff-to-inmate ratio and inadequate staffing, exacerbating the overcrowding issue. Despite these challenges, the prison administration is providing amenities like video-conferencing, televisions, and water purifiers to ensure basic facilities for inmates.

Also Read: Ajit Pawar: Municipal Resolutions Can’t Revoke Liquor Licences in Maharashtra