Video calls help 360 prisoners enjoy ‘e-mulakaat’ with kin

Vadodara: Vadodara Central Jail helped its 360 inmates stay in touch with their families despite lockdown through its video call facility, nicknamed the ‘e-mulakaat’ facility.
According to jail officials, in March, 115 prisoners, while in April, 245 prisoners used this facility to contact their family members. Inmates facing rigorous imprisonment sentences have also been allowed to talk to their family members using the video call facility. TOI had reported before the lockdown came into effect that inmates have been appealed to use the broadband services of the jail to talk to their family members.
“Besides video calling facility, inmates have also been let to talk to use telephones to call up their kin. Although inmates are not being able to meet the families in person, they have appreciated the video calling facility,” said jail superintendent Baldevsinh Vaghela. He added that even before the video calling was encouraged, infrastructure for it was already in place in the premises.
Even before the first case was reported in the state, jail officials had put a cap on the number of visitors coming to meet inmates.
Only two visitors were being allowed in the visitors’ room and that too after they wash and sanitize their hands. The meeting time was also reduced to five minutes.