2025 to be a ‘year of change’ for Punjab jails: Mann government is truly making a ‘reformation home’; Jails became AI hi-tech with Rs 126 crores

Chandigarh:The Punjab Prisons Department today released its year-end achievement report highlighting various initiatives through which the state’s correctional institutions have been transformed into centers of rehabilitation, stability and modern security.

Punjab Jail Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said that the Punjab Government is committed to expanding humanitarian initiatives within the Jail Department, strengthening security through technology and promoting vocational training to skill the prisoners. He said that during the current year, the prisons of Punjab have been redefined from clean environment to high-tech security. He said, “Our focus has been on ensuring the safety of the prisoners while giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives.”

Plantation took place in jails

Giving information about the major achievements of the year 2025, Laljit Singh Bhullar said that Punjab Jail Olympics was organized to inspire the prisoners towards sportsmanship and physical fitness. He said that due to the plantation campaign in jails, many places have been transformed into greenery, which has further strengthened the ‘clean and green’ approach.

The Jail Minister said that to strengthen the infrastructure of jails, a new high-security jail is being constructed at a cost of Rs 100 crore at Gorshiyan Kaderbakhsh, Ludhiana. Similarly, the construction work of ‘Jail Bhawan’ headquarters in Mohali is also in progress.

815 warders and 32 matrons recruited

Referring in detail to the initiatives of the year 2025, the Cabinet Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, 815 warders and 32 matrons have been recruited. Apart from this, recruitment of 175 warders and 4 matrons is going to be completed soon. Besides, the recruitment process of 13 Deputy Superintendents Grade-2, 29 Assistant Superintendents, 451 Warders and 20 Matrons is also going on, which will be completed soon. Apart from this, 509 other PESCO employees have been recruited and 359 more PESCO employees are being recruited soon. Apart from this, another company of CRPF has been deployed in Central Jail Bathinda.

He informed that during the current year, modern security equipment like AI (Artificial Intelligence) based CCTV, X-ray baggage scanner, body-worn cameras etc. are being purchased for the jails at a cost of Rs 126 crore. High-energy jammers are being installed in 13 sensitive jails of Punjab to stop the use of mobile phones in jails.

Jammers are being installed in Punjab jails

The Jail Minister further said that 9 petrol pumps operated by prisoners have been started in Ludhiana, Firozpur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Nabha, Ropar, Fazilka, New Jail Nabha and Sangrur. Apart from this, 3 more petrol pumps will be opened in the coming time. He said that under skill development programs like welder, electrician, computer operator, beautician, tailor etc., courses have been started in the jails of Punjab by opening ITIs in 11 jails, through which a target has been set to provide certified training to about 1016 prisoners.