Bhubaneswar, April 22: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Director General of Odisha Prisons to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within four weeks over the lack of educational facilities in state jails.
Acting on a complaint by rights activist Sagar Kumar Jena, the NHRC noted severe shortages in teachers for inmates and children staying with female prisoners. Of the 23 sanctioned teacher posts across 87 prisons, 17 remain vacant.
Jena highlighted that despite the 2020 implementation of a new prison manual mandating education for prisoners, very few teachers are posted in key jails. The NHRC has asked the DG to address these concerns and report back.
