New Delhi: In a significant move towards social justice and prison reform, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced the “Support to Poor Prisoners” scheme. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on financially constrained prisoners who struggle to pay fines or secure bail. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra, shared the details of the scheme in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
The scheme’s Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) were meticulously developed in consultation with subject experts, legal advisors, and officials from State Governments. These guidelines were shared with States and Union Territories (UTs) on June 19, 2023, and are available on the MHA’s official website: www.mha.gov.in.
To operationalize the scheme, funds have been allocated by the Central Government and placed in the Central Nodal Agency (CNA) Account. States and UTs have been instructed to open subsidiary bank accounts at the State/UT headquarters, linked to the CNA account, to facilitate smooth transactions under the “Support to Poor Prisoners” Scheme.
In a bid to ensure fair and efficient distribution of funds, States and UTs have been directed to establish an ‘Empowered Committee’ in every district. This committee will be tasked with assessing the financial requirements of eligible cases, including securing bail or paying fines. The District level Empowered Committee will make decisions based on need, and the funds will be disbursed by the State/UT Headquarter level Nodal officer. The approved amount will then be forwarded to the relevant court for the payment of fines or securing bail.
This initiative represents a commendable effort by the Ministry of Home Affairs to address the financial challenges faced by indigent prisoners, contributing to the larger goal of ensuring equitable access to justice. The scheme not only reflects a commitment to social responsibility but also underscores the government’s dedication to reforming and improving the criminal justice system for the benefit of the vulnerable and marginalized sections of society.
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