The North News
Chandigarh, December 26
Punjab’s prison system has undergone a year of reforms aimed at turning jails into centres of rehabilitation, tighter security and skill-building, according to a year-end report released on Thursday.
The Jails Minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, said the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was committed to expanding humane initiatives, modernising security through technology and scaling up vocational training for inmates.
He said prisons across the state had moved towards cleaner, greener and more orderly environments, backed by advanced surveillance systems. “Our core focus has been on ensuring prisoner safety while creating avenues for rebuilding their lives,” Mr Bhullar said.
Among the key initiatives in 2025 were the organisation of the Punjab Prison Olympics to promote physical fitness and sportsmanship, and plantation drives that have turned several jail premises into green zones under the Clean and Green vision.
On infrastructure, the minister said a new high-security jail was under construction at Gorsian Kadarbaksh in Ludhiana at a cost of ₹100 crore, while work on the Jails Department headquarters, or Jail Bhawan, is underway in Mohali.
Staffing levels have also been expanded. Mr Bhullar said 815 warders and 32 matrons had already been recruited this year, with appointments for another 175 warders and four matrons nearing completion. Recruitment is also in progress for 13 deputy superintendents (Grade II), 29 assistant superintendents, 451 warders and 20 matrons. In addition, 509 PESCO personnel have been inducted, with 359 more to join soon.
Security measures have been stepped up with the deployment of an additional company of the Central Reserve Police Force at Central Jail Bathinda. The government is also procuring AI-based CCTV systems, X-ray baggage scanners and body-worn cameras for jails at a cost of ₹126 crore, and installing high-energy jammers in 13 sensitive prisons to curb mobile phone use.
The report also highlighted livelihood initiatives inside prisons. Nine petrol pumps are currently being operated by inmates across districts including Ludhiana, Ferozepur and Patiala, with three more set to become operational. Skill development programmes — ranging from welding and electrical work to computer operations, beauty services and tailoring — have been launched through ITIs opened in 11 jails, targeting certified training for around 1,016 inmates.
