Programme for inmates and officials of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa

Imphal, 29th July 2021

Programme for inmates and officials of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa

Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid & services to prisoners

Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority organized an online legal awareness cum interactive programme for the inmates and officials of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa on 29th July 2021 from 1 pm to 2.10 pm. The programme was organized as a part of “Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid and services to prisoners” initiated by MASLSA.

Shri Ojesh Mutum, Member Secretary, MASLSA chaired the said programme, along with Shri S. Touthang, Superintendent of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa (MCJS) and Shri Sadananda Sorokhaibam, Deputy Member Secretary, MASLSA.

In his speech, Shri Ojesh Mutum, Member Secretary, MASLSA highlighted the need to ensure and timely review of contingency plan for management of COVID-19 in order to mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 amongst the prisoners and jail staff. He also highlighted several key steps and directions taken by Hon’ble Supreme Court and National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for effective management of prisons across the nation.

Shri S. Touthang, Superintendent, MCJS also pointed out the limitations and challenges faced by jail authorities. He also highlighted the steps taken by the authority to ensure proper facilities to the prisoners including prisoners’ rights to access fair trial, vocational trainings and proper medical facilities for both inmates and jail staffs.

Key take-aways of the discussion are:

o Online functioning of the Jail Legal Aid Clinic due to the COVID-19 pandemic
o Ensuring the right to fair trial of the prisoners through effective and more efficient access to information and communication, including court hearings, communication with advocates and family members
o Prompt update of the prisoners' data in MASLSA's Prisoner Database Management Portal to ensure transparency in justice administration.
o Enhancing vocational courses for generating sustainable livelihood mechanisms
o Ensuring contingency plan for management of COVID-19 outbreak, the need to review time to time management plan
o Online awareness programmes on Rights of Prisoners, COVID prevention and responses to be organised frequently
o Ensuring proper medical facilities, immediate medical treatment and regular tests for both inmates and jail staffs.

The programme was participated by a total of 20 participants including jail inmates, officials and PLVs of legal aid clinic of Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa. The program also focused on increasing communication between the Jail Legal Aid Clinics, officials of jails and the inmates, besides ensuring the rights of the inmates.

Mention may be made that Covid-19 cases are surging across the country, and restrictions on movement have been placed at many places to contain the rapid surge. In the said scenario, Legal Services Authorities across the country have started appropriately responding to the legal needs of people by optimizing effective and innovative used of digital as well as electronic media and platform.

(Sorokhaibam Sadananda) MJS
Deputy Member Secretary,
Manipur State Legal Services Authority
ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex,
Lamphelpat, Imphal