New Delhi: Prisoners lodged in Tihar jail will now get more time to interact with their family members as authorities plan to extend the telephone facility for its inmates from once to twice a week.
"We have extended the telephone facility from once a week to twice a week. So now in a week`s time, the prisoners can talk to their friends and relatives for a total of ten minutes," Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta said.
“it has been done as part of the rehabilitation programme for the prisoners. The more they interact with their family and friends, the more it will help them," Gupta said. However, this facility does not come free of cost. To avail it, the user will have to shell out Rs 100 for making local calls and Rs 200 for outstation calls for a month`s time.
The inmates can use only two listed numbers given by them to the jail authorities. Also, all telephonic conversations will be recorded as a security precaution. To help inmates avail the facility, Tihar authorities have asked the government to upgrade the daily allowance of a skilled inmate from the current Rs 16 per day to Rs 52 each work day.
For semi-skilled labourers, the wages could be raised from Rs 12 to Rs 48, while those in the unskilled category can expect their wage increase from Rs 10 to Rs 44. "Habitual offenders will be barred from availing this facility as they might misuse it and pose inconvenience to others," Gupta said.
Regarding ISD calls he said that the charges would be on individual call basis.
PTI
