Bhubaneswar: Prisoners in Odisha are likely to get snacks at night soon. The Directorate of Prisons has sought funds from the state government for prisoners’ night refreshments by enhancing their dietary allowance.
At present, prisoners are given three meals a day, but the jail manual also has provisions for food during the night. According to the manual, each prisoner has been prescribed a diet containing 2,816 Kcal and 3,100 Kcal for pregnant and nursing women inmates.
With every prisoner to get snacks at night, it has not been decided what snack would be provided. The Directorate, however, proposed a packet of biscuits.
In view of the price rise of food and essential commodities, the Directorate has proposed the Home department to raise the diet cost from Rs 64 per day to Rs 80. The diet cost was last revised from Rs 60 to Rs 64 per day for both convicts and UTPs lodged in different jails, sub-jails and correctional institutions in 2015.
“It has been estimated that funds to the tune of Rs 64.24 crore per annum will be required for around 22,000 prisoners in the State if the enhanced diet cost is approved,” a jail official was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
According to the official, there should be an in-built arrangement so that there is a commensurate rise in the budgetary provision for the diet and related expenses to accommodate the price hike.
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