SAYS, PUNJAB JAILS REDEFINED FROM CLEAN ENVIRONMENTS TO HIGH-TECH SECURITY
PROCESS UNDERWAY TO PROCURE AI-BASED CCTV CAMERAS, X-RAY BAGGAGE SCANNERS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT AT COST OF RS.126-CR
Chandigarh, December 26:
The Punjab Jails Department today issued its Year-End Achievement Report, highlighting a series of initiatives that have transformed correctional institutions across the state into centres focused on rehabilitation, stability and modern security systems.
Punjab Jails Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar said that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Government is committed to expanding humane initiatives within the jails department, strengthening security through technology-driven solutions and scaling up vocational training to equip inmates with employable skills. He informed that during this year, jails in Punjab have been redefined from clean and orderly surroundings to facilities backed by advanced security infrastructure. “Our core focus has been on ensuring prisoner safety while creating avenues for rebuilding their lives”, he added.
Sharing key achievements of 2025, the Jails Minister informed that Punjab Prison Olympics were organised to encourage inmates towards sportsmanship and physical fitness. He said that plantation drives across jails have converted several premises into green zones, further reinforcing the Clean and Green vision.
S. Bhullar said that to strengthen jails infrastructure, a new high-security jail is being constructed at Gorsian Kadarbaksh in Ludhiana at a cost of Rs.100 crore. Similarly, construction work of the Jail Bhawan headquarters is underway at Mohali.
Detailing recruitment initiatives undertaken this year, the Cabinet Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, 815 warders and 32 matrons have already been recruited, while the recruitment of 175 warders and 4 matrons is nearing completion. Besides this, the recruitment process for 13 Deputy Superintendents Grade-II, 29 Assistant Superintendents, 451 warders and 20 matrons is also in progress and will be completed shortly. In addition, 509 PESCO personnel have been recruited and 359 more PESCO staff will be inducted soon.
He further informed that one additional company of CRPF has been deployed at Central Jail Bathinda. He said that modern security equipment including AI-based CCTV systems, X-ray baggage scanners and body-worn cameras are being procured for jails at a cost of Rs.126 crore. High-energy jammers are also being installed in 13 sensitive jails across Punjab to curb the use of mobile phones.
The Jails Minister further said that nine petrol pumps are being operated by inmates at Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Nabha, Rupnagar, Fazilka, New Nabha Jail and Sangrur. He said that three more petrol pumps will be made operational in the coming period. He said that skill development programmes such as welder, electrician, computer operator, beauty services and tailoring have been launched in Punjab jails by opening ITIs in 11 jails, with a target to provide certified courses to nearly 1016 inmates.
