Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has set up a Prisons Development Board to modernise jails in the state.
The board, which will be headed by the state chief secretary, will meet at least once every six months, according to a notification issued by the Odisha Home department on Thursday.
An urgent meeting can be convened anytime and the board chairman can invite any other official or non-official member as and when required, the notification stated.
Among the functions of the board will be improving the living conditions of prisoners, ensuring their right to dignity and overseeing reforms.
“The board will prepare three to five-year action plans for the overall development of the prisons and may seek the help of third parties like the Bureau of Police Research and Development and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,” the notification stated.
