Jail Industry in Nepal

Jail Industry in Nepal

Nepal has tremendous opportunities for growth but these capabilities are kept in the corner of possibilities. Unemployment, sluggish pace of development, political instability, decreasing investment, less production, involvement of youth in illegal practices are blessed gifts Nepal is running with. This acidic scenario has caused overcrowding of prisoner in the prison of Nepal.

Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 says “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. Principle 1, 8, 24, 28, 38 of The Body of Principles of UN General Assembly on 9 December 1988 has passed the fundamental rights of prisoners including health, education, entertainment, exercise, family attachment and other basic human rights. In this regard, a Jail should not be punishment house but it should only detach prisoner with criminal mind. But the scenario is inverse, where Jails are the criminal producing factories now days. When a prisoner enters the Jail he comes in touch with other criminal where he enjoys the given facilities but cannot reinforce his mind. The only way to make him detached from criminal life is to engage him in any kind of productive work, so that his mind will not be devils workshop anymore and government can take some economic benefits.

There are 73 prisons in Nepal with 8491 prisoners in the capacity of 7000 person only in 2009 (Overcrowding of Prison Populations: The Nepalese Perspective Mahendra Nath Upadhyaya.) This figure has caught up the increased trend in the fixed capacity with number of prisoner being increased about to 11000.

These prisoners can be used by Nepalese government as the employees of some government owned enterprises that can be operated within a Jail. Such small and medium sized industries can be textile industry, dairy firm, butchery firm, assembly line products firm, engraving, refinishing small furniture, sewing firm, press industry and so on. Further, grinding mills, wrappers, kid-gift items, and shoes firm can also be the option. This will enhance the government revenue and reduce the government burden to pay wage to prisoners. Further this act will increase the employment opportunity. After punishment period, prisoner can use their skill in society and can become the entrepreneur.

Alternatively, they can be trained in sports like football, cricket, and other indoor games so that they can be hired by national clubs and make their life economically sustainable and choose the alternative course for crime.