An Indian prison which allows inmates to live with family
What's the story
At an open prison in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh, there is a two-room home, where a convicted prisoner lives with his family and can step outside the premises to work.
The prison, named Devi Ahilyabai Open Colony, near the district jail has been started with an aim to bring a positive change in the lives of the inmates there.
Here's more.
Independent apartments
10 married prisoners have been given independent apartments
At present, 10 married prisoners have been given independent apartments.
In one of these apartments, a prisoner, Bhupendra Singh, has begun to settle with his family since Sunday.
45-year-old Singh, a resident of Shajapur town in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, was arrested in connection with the killing of a youth in 1996. He was later given a life sentence.
Normal life
I want to live a normal life, says prisoner
Bhupendra Singh has spent more than 12 years of his life in various jails of the Madhya Pradesh.
"I still have to spend some more time in prison. But since I have come to this open jail, I feel I have been released. I regret what I did and now I want to live a normal life," Singh said.
Family
Singh's wife lives with him in open prison
"As I'm allowed to visit outside for work, I'm planning to open a kiosk in the city where I want to sell tea and snacks," Singh said.
Singh's wife Seema, 35, lives with him in open prison. They have two children.
"I've stayed away from my husband for years... We are happy we would be able to live together now," Seema said.
Information
Singh's children likely to be admitted to a local school
From the next academic session, Singh's children are likely to be admitted to a local school and they would be able to live together with their parents in the open prison.
Open jail
Experiment has been started following instructions of HC: Jail Superintendent
The open prison has been started under the administrative supervision of Indore District Jail.
District Jail Superintendent Aditi Chaturvedi said, "This experiment has been started following the instructions of High Court. The inmates in open prison are those who have been given life sentence but have behaved well and are to be released in one or two years after completion of their term."
Record of visitors
Guards keep a record of all visitors
Chaturvedi said the inmates in the open prison are allowed to go outside the premises to work at 8 am and are required to return by 6 pm. They are not allowed to breach the city limits.
The guards keep a record of all visitors.
District and Sessions Judge Rajeev Kumar Shrivastava praised the experiment to give inmates some liberty to live their life.