ON November 23rd, twelve members of the UNESCO Club, together with the Moderator visited the Special Sub Jail, Mangalore. A guide assigned by the chief superintendent took us round the jail and showed us all the cells. We saw many in the lock up. The guide told us that there were 110 inmates.
Some of the inmates prepare cloth, others prepare mattresses. And these articles are supplied to the hospitals. Some other inmates work in the vegetable gardens. During the past years many prizes have been awarded to them for producing the best type of vegetables.
The inmates themselves cook the food. The food is weighed and given to each person. The inmates are allowed to write letters; but the letters are censored by the authorities. They are given two daily newspapers. In the evening, they are allowed to listen to the radio. They are not allowed to keep money with them.
There are three types of jails in our State. They are classified as A, B and C. Jail A is in Bangalore. It can accommodate more than 2000 prisoners. Jail B is in Mysore. It is meant for the Mysore subdivision. In Mangalore we have the C jail. It is meant for the South Kanara District. Each taluk has a lock up which can contain ten people. But once a culprit is sentenced by the judge, he is brought to this jail. The prisoners here are kept only for two years.
Those who are below sixteen are not kept here for long. Soon after the investigation they are sent to the remand home. Four important people of the town, appointed by the Deputy Commissioner, visit the prison from time to time and enquire about the welfare of the inmates. The medical officer visits the jail every day. Many times, during the year the inmates are given moral science classes by a master from one of the schools in town.
We were really happy that we got a chance to visit the jail. It was an eye opener to us to know how society punishes those who violate the laws of the community and how it tries to re-educate them.