Vadodara: The prisoners’ welfare department of Vadodara Central Jail disbursed Rs 24 lakh, the highest aid ever to the prisoners’ families, during the pandemic year.
Families of 96 prisoners were given the aid under the an assistance scheme of the state government’s social security department. The department of the Vadodara jail has been giving financial assistance since 2011-12 and has so far helped families of 757 inmates by giving them Rs 85.3 lakh.
The aid is given to the families of those prisoners who are the sole earning members of the families and have received a sentence of five or more years. Under this scheme, the family members can buy animals for dairy farming, sewing machine or a hand cart.
“We did not stop giving aid even during the pandemic. In fact, last year we gave the highest aid since the scheme began,” said Mahesh Rathod, prisoners’ welfare officer.