Prison Conditions and Challenges for Disabled Prisoners
Exonerated after 10 years in prison in March 2024, Saibaba, a disabled academic, passed away in October 2024 due to mistreatment, including lack of wheelchair accessibility in jail.
India’s prisons house 5.73 lakh prisoners, exceeding their capacity of 4.36 lakh, with many prisons operating at over 100% capacity.
Prisoners with disabilities are often targets of abuse. Their special needs, like assistance with daily activities, are ignored.
There is no official data on the number of disabled prisoners.
Father Stan Swamy, a Parkinson’s disease patient, was denied basic assistive items like a straw and sipper, worsening his condition.
Prisons, lack accessible facilities, such as functional wheelchairs, accessible cells, toilets, and recreational spaces, as revealed by a 2018 audit.
Failure of Prison Reforms and Oversight
Despite reports like the Mulla Committee (1980s) and the Rama Murthy case (1996), significant prison reforms, particularly for disabled inmates, have not been implemented.
Prisons lack accurate data on disabled prisoners, hindering proper care and support, with audits like the 2018 Tihar Jail report highlighting severe accessibility gaps.
Legal Rights and Violations
The UN Convention on Disabilities and the Nelson Mandela Rules, guarantee humane conditions and accessibility for disabled prisoners. These rights are often violated.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) and other legal frameworks mandate dignified conditions, yet violations persist, as seen with Swamy's denial of basic needs.
The Ministry of Home Affairs' 2016 manual and 2024 guidelines call for accessible prisons, but enforcement remains lacking.
Political Will and the Need for Reform
Public indifference and the belief that prisoners deserve harsh treatment undermine political will to reform prisons.
State governments are responsible for ensuring the rights of prisoners, especially those with disabilities.
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