The safest prison in Telangana State is in Hyderabad’s Cherlapally Central Jail, where utmost level Covid Safe regulations maintained.
Even as the second wave wreaked havoc across the nation, no single prisoner in Cherlapally jail tested positive for the virus, thanks to the precautions taken by the jail authorities to shield 2,100 inmates of the inner jail and 60 to 70 of the outer jail.
According to the jail authorities, they have been implementing Covid protocols right from the first wave of the pandemic. As part of the precautions, the authorities stopped physical ‘mulakhat’ sessions and are allowing only ‘e-prisons’, through videoconferencing.
This ‘e-prison’ allows prisoners lodged in the inner jail to speak to family members through video call. However, inmates of the outer jail have only the audio call option at their disposal.
A disinfection tunnel has been set up near the jail’s second gate for officials and advocates who use it before going inside the jail to interact with the inmates. Thermal screening and pulse oximeter readings are being noted. The officials and advocates are let inside the prison only after they double mask themselves.
Every day, vitamin tablets are given to the inmates, along with nutritious food.
While observing social distance has been made mandatory, all inmates are given health checks regularly.
The Cherlapally prison houses prisoners convicted by Rangareddy district court and those booked in Preventive Detention Act cases.
The moment the prisoners reach the prison, they are subjected to Covid tests. They are then kept in isolation for 10 to 12 days even if they test negative for the virus.
Vaccination is being done to prisoners who have been sentenced to undergo life imprisonment. So far, 1700-1900 prisoners were administered the vaccine through a special drive. Of these, 900 have been given the second dose too.
In all, 60-70 prisoners in the outer jail received the first shot. There are 30 prisoners in the outer jail who received both shots.
Speaking to #KhabarLive, a top official of the jail, on condition of anonymity, said that a series of precautions initiated acting according to a plan has resulted in not even a single prisoner testing positive for the virus. All inmates, barring those who have health problems, have received Covid vaccine in the jail, he added. #KhabarLive #hydnews