Darjeeling correctional home to be converted into model institution

TT, Darjeeling, 7 Jan 2016:  The Darjeeling district correctional home is struggling to protect its land from encroachment even as the state government plans to convert it and the Presidency correctional home into model institutions. Presently in the hills for a tour of the correctional homes in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong,

West Bengal Correctional Administration minister Haider Aziz Safwi said, “This is my official visit to the correctional homes in the hills. I visited the correctional homes in Kurseong and Darjeeling today to see the conditions and facilities available.” The minister said the living condition of the inmates were alright. “Overall, things are fine here though the inmates do not have hot water facility during the winter. The food served is also standard with all correctional homes across the state,” Safwi said.

Talking to reporters later at the hill Trinamool Congress office, the minister said, “We have taken a decision in consultation with the state human rights commission to convert the Presidency and Darjeeling district correctional homes into model institutions. This means we will give priority to cleanliness and better medical and recreational facilities, among other things.”

The Darjeeling correctional home has a registered capacity to house 120 male and seven female inmates. Meanwhile, the capacity in the Kurseong and Kalimpong homes are 24 and 36 respectively for both male and females. “At present we have 72 inmates in the correctional home. It is good to know that the state government has decided to convert the Darjeeling correctional home into a model one,” said TR Bhutia, the correctional home superintendent.

However, sources said the correctional home in Darjeeling was facing encroachment issues and this has been already brought to the notice of the state government. “We have sufficient land at our disposal for upgrading if required. However, due to the absence of a boundary wall, encroachment is taking place with settlements cropping up over the years. We did not place the issue before the minister today because the state government is already aware of it,” said Bhutia, when asked if the minister was notified. The sources also said the correctional home was facing a manpower crunch with 14 vacant posts at present.

Safwi will next head to Kalimpong and then to Siliguri. The Kalimpong correctional home is undergoing minor repair work, the minister said.