BHOPAL: The state government might be exhibiting alacrity after the incident of jailbreak in Bhopal Central Jail, but the government did not take jail department seriously prior to the incident. Whether it is appointing of minister or officers of this department, stopgap arrangements were made. Even in the existing scenario, the government has appointed Kusum Mehadale as jail minister, who has an impression of showing less interest in her department’s affairs.
Principal secretary Vinod Semval, when he was removed from medical education department, was posted in jail department. The then medical education minister wanted to transfer Semval. Earlier too, the minister and officers of this department were kept only as adjustment by the government. PC Meena as principal secretary and JT Ekka too were posted in this department in the past as punishment.
Jail department was under Babulal Gaur when he was home minister. Before him, it was under Antar Singh Arya and Jagdish Devda. Several proposals were prepared in the past to make jails strong but they were not taken seriously at high levels in the government.
Jail department has been allocated a budget of Rs 342 crore this year, which is quite less than other departments.
An officer, who was earlier posted in jail department, said whenever there was any demand made by the department, finance department used to raise obstacles.
This officer maintains that the department gets budget in name and most of its demands, even in supplementary budget, are rejected by finance department.
