Supreme Court Judge visits Bengaluru Central Prison, launches skill development and mental health initiatives

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Justice Vikram Nath of the Supreme Court and executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) visited the Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara on Sunday and inaugurated several initiatives aimed at improving rehabilitation, skill development and mental healthcare services for inmates.

Justice Nath was accompanied by Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru of the Karnataka High Court and patron-in-chief of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), justice Anu Sivaraman, executive chairperson of KSLSA, and other senior judicial and legal services officials.

They first visited the prison’s Legal Services Centre and reviewed the legal-aid and welfare measures being provided to inmates. They later inaugurated a computer laboratory sponsored by R.V. College of Engineering, Bengaluru, under the theme “Cells to Skills”, a programme designed to equip prisoners with digital and vocational skills to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

The delegation also visited the prison hospital’s De-Addiction Centre, where they were briefed by medical officers on the treatment and counselling facilities available for inmates struggling with substance abuse.

In a significant step towards improving mental healthcare within prisons, they inaugurated a Tele-MANAS facility in the women’s prison wing. The service will provide inmates with access to mental health counselling and treatment through trained professionals and specialists via telecommunication platforms.

The visiting judges interacted with women inmates and inspected the prison’s recently established creche facility, which caters to children residing with incarcerated mothers. They also held discussions with inmates, legal-aid beneficiaries, prison officials and representatives of the District Legal Services Authority regarding access to legal assistance and prisoner welfare programmes.

Several senior judicial officers, legal services officials and prison authorities attended the event. The programme was presided over by Alok Kumar, Director-General of Police, Prisons and Correctional Services, Karnataka.

The initiatives are expected to strengthen rehabilitation efforts and enhance the overall welfare of inmates in the State’s prison system.