On Monday, the National Commission for Women (NCW) said that since the lockdown was announced, over 1,700 women undertrials have been given parole by seven states to ensure social distancing in jails.

With 1,039 paroles, Uttar Pradesh let go of the maximum no. of women undertrials, followed by Haryana with 223 women undertrials. Chhattisgarh (107), Gujarat (102), West Bengal (93), Delhi (73), Telangana (61) and Manipur (4) were the other states.

The NCW had directed prison authorities from 25 states to take part in a review meeting on Monday to take stock of their reform measures for women inmates.

On April 22, the women’s agency had directed the states to implement a slew of measures for the safety of women during the Covid-19 pandemic. On Sunday, a woman in Byculla jail was found to be positive for Covid-19.

Most of the states reported 50-80 per cent occupancy after authorities gave bail to women undertrials.

The NCW said that “No cases of Covid-19 positive have been found in women’s prison wards and barracks".

Rekha Sharma, NCW chairperson said that the virtual meeting was necessitated by several states not following up on the April 22 advisory. Some jails, she said, had pregnant women.

She said that “Haryana, with 7 pregnant women, had the highest and Bihar has three. They are taken care of".

She said, Karnataka, was giving jobs to women who have finished jail term or were on parole in a petrol pump run wholly by women. The prisoners in the state of Kerala have manufactured nearly 500 litres of sanitisers under the lockdown.

In a release, the NCW said that “The state of Tamil Nadu has made total of 2900 video calls and other states were advised to advertise E-Mulaqat on a bigger scale. A commendable task is done by the state of Kerala, where 10,000 (female and male) prisoners were presented before the court for their (parole) proceedings".

The NCW had in a letter on April 22 to Director General and Inspector General of Prisons in states recommended that to decongest jails under the lockdown, women undertrials even in non-bailable offences be given bail application under Section 437(I)(ii) of the CrPC. Services of the respective state or District Legal Services Authority (SLSA/DLSA) should be provided to women so that they can place the applications of the inmates before a competent court, the letter said.

The women's agency had also suggested that the legal help should come with positive recommendation from the prosecution side. It also asked prison officials to maintain hygienic conditions and ensure supply of toiletries, masks, hand gloves and sanitisers, provide adequate medical and healthcare services.

“Provisions for medical check-up and arranging for services of specialists like psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers, gynaecologists on visit basis in the prison ... authorities should also arrange and encourage video conferencing of the prisoners with their family members, for the psychological and mental wellbeing and strength of the prisoners,” read the NCW’s recommendations. 

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