Saud urged the government to take immediate steps to reduce overcrowding in prisons, provide alternative punishments and improve health services.
What you should know
Congress MP NP Saud has demanded the formation of a parliamentary study committee for a long-term solution to various problems seen in prisons across the country. Speaking during the special session of the House of Representatives on Thursday, he demanded the formation of a parliamentary study committee for long-term solutions to various problems seen in prisons.
"I request the formation of a parliamentary study committee to implement the prison reform concept paper, 2079 report issued under the Home Administration Reform Plan, 2078 and to solve this problem in the long term by conducting a comprehensive study of the prison reform process," Saud said.
Emphasizing that prisoners are also citizens of the society, Leader Saud said that showing the way to reform by protecting their rights is the hallmark of a civilized and responsible state.
Former foreign minister Saud urged the government to come up with a concrete and long-term reform plan immediately. He said that health services, hygiene, nutritious food and mental health programs should be ensured by improving the structure of prisons and building structures according to capacity.
Saud also said that in order to reduce overcrowding in prisons, there should be an alternative punishment system and the strengthening of trained human resources and security mechanisms to prevent violent incidents. He also emphasized on the expansion of rehabilitation and vocational training programs according to international standards. Saud said that the provisions of health services, nutritious food, clean water, recreation and rehabilitation programs prescribed by law are not sufficient in most prisons.
He quoted the National Human Rights Commission and said that the incident that occurred in Kailali Jail on July 24, the death of a prisoner in Birganj Jail, and the fact that more prisoners were kept than the capacity of Rupandehi District Jail and other district jails, even minimum human rights could not be protected.
Saud also informed the House that there are 28 thousand 718 prisoners with 10 thousand 435 prisoners and 18 thousand 283 prisoners in 75 prisons across the country. Apart from that, there are also 1427 foreign nationals. "Most of these prisons are operating with more than double the capacity of prisoners," he said, "which has caused the problem of overcrowding, health risks, violent incidents and human rights violations."
