Kaushambi jail deal: ‘Give up tobacco and get two glasses milk daily’

While many anti-tobacco initiatives have been launched from time to time, this one is proving to be quite effective already.

‘Give up tobacco and get two glasses full of milk daily’ is the new mantra adopted by Kaushambi jail superintendent to motivate the prisoners to give up the habit.

The superintendent is already offering half litre milk to prisoners who have vowed to give up smoking ‘bidi’ or chewing tobacco.

“I have arranged for separate barracks for inmates who do not smoke or were not addicted to tobacco,” said BS Mukund, jail superintendent.

Kaushambi district jail houses around 642 inmates, out of which around 70% are addicted to smoking ‘bidi’ or consuming tobacco.

The non-addicts also suffer because of them and had made several requests to jail officials in the past for separate barracks. However, no attention was paid to their demands.

Mukund, who has launched a similar drive in Firozabad jail, have already made arrangements for a separate barrack for such non-addicts.

“Although bidi and tobacco are allowed to prisoners as per the jail manual, their use creates problem for inmates who are not addicted to it. They are forced to inhale smoke and suffer from lung-related diseases,” said Mukund while talking to Hindustan Times.

Posters describing the harmful effects of smoking and chewing tobacco will soon be put up inside the jail premises.

“Our team of doctors will personally meet the inmates and make them aware of the harmful effects of tobacco use,” he said while claiming that at least 25 inmates have been de-addicted ever since the drive was launched around a week back.

To motivate them and enable them to fight the effects of de-addiction, the jail administration is providing them half litres of milk every day.

“My objective is to make the jail a no smoking zone. It may be a reality soon as many inmates have now shown interest in giving up the habit.

In another initiative to motivate inmates to keep their barracks clean, the jail administration has declared a reward of canteen coupon of Rs 501 to the head prisoner whose barrack is found to be the cleanest on Gandhi Jayanti.