Jail Radio: Uttar Pradesh

3 August, 2024: Press Release

Study on the Communication Needs of Women and Children in Prisons released in Lucknow by Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh

• Women inmates live in a prison inside the prison- Study has presented suggestions for improving prison life
• 6 jails of UP were chosen for the study
• Prison Radio was started in District Jail, Agra during the study
• Prison radios were later launched in he jails of Haryana and Uttarakhand
• Study was carried out by prison reformer and media educator Vartika Nanda

A detailed research report titled, “Study of the condition of women inmates and their children in Indian Prisons and their communication needs with special reference to Uttar Pradesh” conducted under the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), was released today in Lucknow by Shri Manoj Kumar Singh (IAS), Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh and Shri P. V. Rama Sastry, Director General of Police/Inspector General Prison, Prison Administration and Reform Services, Uttar Pradesh.

This research was carried out by prison reformer and media educator Dr. Vartika Nanda, under the domain of Media, Culture and Society, sanctioned by ICSSR. The study has been evaluated as ‘outstanding’ by ICSSR. The study focussed on a span of one year, between March 2019 to 2020. Since the pandemic started in 2020, the study also incorporated the communication needs of inmates during the pandemic. Even after the submission, the research work has continued in the form of continued contribution to jail life.

Centre of Study

District Jail, Agra was selected as the main centre of study for this project. This is one of the oldest jail buildings in India, built in the year 1741 A.D. Apart from this, 5 other jails, namely, Nari Bandi Niketan, Lucknow, District Jails of Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Banda and Central Jail, Naini, Prayagraj were especially chosen for study.

Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, which recorded the highest number of women inmates and their children in 2018 and also has the highest number of convicts and under trials. In this light, the study had carefully chosen 6 major prisons from eastern (Banda and Prayagraj), western (Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Agra) and central Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow). This study has also picked up several references from other Indian jails, including Delhi Prisons, Tihar.

Officers’ speak

While releasing this crucial report, Shri Manoj Kumar Singh remarked xxxxx

Shri P. V. Rama Sastry, Director General of Police/Inspector General Prison, Prison Administration and Reform Services, Uttar Pradesh- “As spoken about various welfare measures are being taken for women prisoners and children living with them. These includes separate accommodation and construction of barracks for women prisoners, enhancement of healthcare facilities as well as education and skill training initiatives.”

Findings of the Study
“Women inmates live in a prison inside the prison…”

The research has effectively shed light on the isolation experienced by women inmates who rarely find their needs adequately addressed in prisons, vis-a-vis men. Women inmates reside in completely separate isolated zones. Prisons are usually designed keeping in mind the needs of the male population. Resultantly, women, children and transgenders who enter the prison system face several challenges due to inadequate healthcare, communication facilities, recreational programmes, vocational training, and constructive engagements. Their needs are rarely addressed adequately in the prisons and the facilities provided to them are grossly deficient and lacking as compared to men. Thus, women inmates live in a prison inside prison.

Generally, women inmates are not encouraged to participate in prison radio by prison staff. They are heavily dependent on television for entertainment which further degrades the quality of the prison environment. Children in prison are deprived of sufficient opportunities to recreate, reinvent, explore or experiment. Also, prison radio has not been institutionalised in state prison manuals, despite having been included in the model prison manual for a very long time. Even in those prisons where it has been launched, no continuity is assured due to lack of interest. It also generally lacks proper infrastructure, such as a studio and proper sound equipment. There is no systematic monitoring system to observe and record the growth and impact of prison radio.

None of the jails in Uttar Pradesh allows inmates to use the internet for communication or education purposes. Computer related training is irregular. Every female inmate, living with the child, expressed desire that their children be permitted to use the internet to know more about the world, explore child-friendly content and also vocabulary enhancing programmes.

Non institutionalisation of prison radio, lack of interest in continuing and maintaining existing prison radios, poor infrastructure as well as monitoring system and non-existence of internet, digital literacy, etc. have further increased communication gaps in prisons in Uttar Pradesh.

Impact
The study went beyond the proposed research work and influenced significant positive changes in the prison environment. It also identified the skill gaps and helped in honing the skills of inmates, further contributing to their growth.

1. During the research period at District Jail Agra, an on-campus radio station was started, run entirely by inmates, addressing the immediate and emergent communication needs of inmates. It commenced broadcasting with three inmates as Radio Jockeys (RJ), of which Tuhina was the only woman RJ among all the prisons of the U.P. Later on, the researcher conceived and executed prison radios in 10 out of 20 jails of Haryana.
2. Success of this radio motivated Uttar Pradesh Prison Department to start prison radio in all the 5 Central Jails and 18 District Jails of the state. The initiative assumed bigger significance during the highly contagious COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 when visitations were prohibited.
3. This research had a crucial impact on the availability of telephones in jails for women. Researcher had earlier made a request to Uttar Pradesh Prison Department for providing telephone facilities for women inmates in prisons of the state, which was accepted and implemented during COVID-19 outbreak. A survey by the researcher in five selected jails reaffirmed the usefulness of telephones in maintaining their communication links with the outside world.

Background of the researcher:
Dr. Vartika Nanda is a prison reformer and media educator using the best practices of journalism and academia for prison reforms. She is the founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation, which works for improving prison life, including the introduction of prison radio in District Jail, Agra and the jails of Haryana. She has authored three books on prisons. Her Tinka Tinka Jail Radio Podcasts are exclusive podcasts dedicated to Indian prisons. President of India conferred the Stree Shakti Puraskar on her in 2014. Her name has also been included in the Limca Book of Records twice for her unique work on prison reforms. Her work on prisons was taken cognizance by the Supreme Court of India in 2018. Currently, she heads the Department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University.

Extra information:

Purpose of the Research

This field-based and action-oriented study attempts to fill the gaps in research related to the living conditions and communication needs of women and children in India’s prisons. In addition to a significant contribution to academic literature, it has explored possible ways and offered suggestions to address such gaps, with special reference to the prisons of Uttar Pradesh.

Women inmates and their children are among the marginalised sections in prisons. Though some studies have been conducted on their general living conditions, their communication aspects have been hardly examined. As direct and indirect communication needs are even more vital for the overall well-being of women and personality growth of children, the study of their needs assumes higher significance. It finally offers some concrete suggestions and inputs to the policy makers, prison administrators and the media. Implementing these suggestions/ inputs at ground level may bring substantial improvement in prisons.

Background: Work in the jails of Uttar Pradesh

1. 2016: Vartika Nanda has worked extensively with the jails of Uttar Pradesh. She forayed into the space of prison reformation in U.P. by conceptualising, producing and directing ‘Tinka Tinka Agra’ in 2016-17. Third in the series of songs produced by Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF) for jails, the song showcased the musical talent of inmates in Central Jail, Agra, one of the oldest prisons in India.

2. 2016/ 2020: Her book, Tinka Tinka Dasna, tracing the lives of five individuals sentenced to life imprisonment in District Jail, Dasna, was published in 2016 and was translated into English by Nupur Talwar. The second edition of the book was released by Shri Anand Kumar, IPS, DGP/ IG Prisons, Uttar Pradesh and Shri Sulkhan Singh, Former DG Police, Uttar Pradesh in District Jail, Lucknow in 2019.

3. Started in 2015: Tinka Tinka India Awards, the only awards for inmates and prison staff, were dedicated to the theme ‘Radio in Jails’ in the year 2019. The award ceremony was conducted in District Jail, Lucknow in 2019. Interestingly, both the inmates, Uday Sarup and Tuhina Saxena, who were the key players of Jail Radio Agra, were granted special permission by the state and were brought to Lucknow jail to receive awards by Shri Anand Kumar, DGP/ IG Prisons, Uttar Pradesh and Shri Sulkhan Singh, Former DG Police, Uttar Pradesh.

4. 2019: Jail Radio in District Jail, Agra was launched in July, 2019, becoming a life line for inmates. This encouraged Tinka Tinka Foundation to start prison radios in Haryana.

5. 2019: Uday Sarup, was a 26 year old undertrial lodged in the Agra Jail. With a degree in B.Sc. (Hons), he has a Fellowship from Ashoka University and was pursuing his MA in Philosophy. Even while in jail he pursued his PG Diploma in Women and Gender Studies and a course in Urdu Language from IGNOU. He offered legal assistance, helping inmates with their legal requirements. He also played an integral role in the planning, execution and commencement of Agra Jail Radio.

6. 2019: Tuhina Saxena, 29 years old, an IIM-Bangalore Post Graduate, was an undertrial at the District Jail, Agra. She played a vital role in as a radio jockey. She was the first woman inmate in UP to become a radio jockey for the jail radio. She encouraged other inmates too to participate in the radio.

7. Another special awardee from Uttar Pradesh, 25 year old Sandhya was convicted in District Jail, Banda, UP. Taking forward the initiative of our Prime Minister in making India a plastic free country, Sandhya made cloth bags in jail using her creativity and talent in stitching. She also taught inmates and their children helping increase the level of education in prisons.

Policy Recommendations

The study has offered several policy recommendations. Some of them are as follows:
• Children should be allowed to stay separately from their mothers, next to the enclosure of the mother so that they are protected from the criminogenic influence of other inmates.
• As the children living in jails are not prisoners, there should be no restrictions on the number of visits and duration/ frequency of telephone usage.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs, through a policy directive, should encourage the states to institutionalize prison radio.
• As no additional finances are required for running a prison radio, it can be expanded to most of the prisons.
• Successful running of prison radio should be considered a best practice and added to the Prison Statistics India in Chapter 10 in the section- Rehabilitation and Welfare of prisoners.
• Provision of prison radio should be incorporated into the state prison manuals.
• Special remission by Director General/Additional Director General should be given to inmates who actively participate in operating prison radio.

पत्र सूचना शाखा
(मुख्य सचिव मीडिया कैम्प)
सूचना एवं जन सम्पर्क विभाग, उ0प्र0

मुख्य सचिव ने डॉ0 वर्तिका नंदा की ‘उत्तर प्रदेश के विशेष संदर्भ में भारतीय जेलों में महिला कैदियों और उनके बच्चों की स्थिति और उनकी संचार आवश्यकताओं का अध्ययन’ शीर्षक पर आधारित विस्तृत शोध रिपोर्ट का विमोचन किया

शोध रिपोर्ट में जेल में निरुद्ध महिलाओं एवं बच्चों के जीवन को बेहतर बनाने के लिए दिए गए सुझाव

अध्ययन के लिए यूपी की 6 जेलों को चुना गया

अध्ययन के दौरान जिला जे

ल आगरा में जेल रेडियो किया गया शुरू

लखनऊ: मुख्य सचिव श्री मनोज कुमार सिंह ने भारतीय सामाजिक विज्ञान अनुसंधान परिषद (आईसीएसएसआर) के तत्वावधान में दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के लेडी श्री राम कॉलेज में पत्रकारिता विभाग की प्रमुख व जेल सुधारक डॉ. वर्तिका नंदा की “उत्तर प्रदेश के विशेष संदर्भ में भारतीय जेलों में महिला कैदियों और उनके बच्चों की स्थिति और उनकी संचार आवश्यकताओं का अध्ययन” शीर्षक पर आधारित एक विस्तृत शोध रिपोर्ट का विमोचन किया।
अपने संबोधन में मुख्य सचिव ने कहा कि उत्तर प्रदेश के जेलों में निरुद्ध महिला कैदियों और उनके साथ रह रहे बच्चों के लिये विभिन्न कल्याणकारी उपाय किये जा रहे हैं। इनमें महिला कैदियों के लिए अलग आवास और बैरकों का निर्माण, स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं में सुधार के साथ-साथ शिक्षा और कौशल प्रशिक्षण पहल शामिल है।
उन्होंने डॉ0 वर्तिका नंदा का आभार व्यक्त करते हुए कहा कि उनके द्वारा एक कठिन विषय को शोध के लिए चुना गया है। सिद्धदोष कैदियों के साथ विचाराधीन कैदियों को भी कारागार में निरुद्ध रहना पड़ता है। आमतौर पर लोग इस विषय पर चर्चा नहीं करना चाहते, क्योंकि उन्हें पॉजिटिव वाइब्स या फीलिंग महसूस नहीं होती।
उन्होंने कहा कि जेलों में इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर, संचार, सोशल एक्टिविटी को लेकर अच्छा माहौल कैदियों में पॉजिटिविटी को बढ़ायेगा और अपराध की पुनरावृत्ति दर को कम करेगा। शोध रिपोर्ट में जेलों में सुधार के लिए जो सिफारिशें की गई हैं, उन्हें प्रदेश की जेलों में लागू कराने का प्रयास किया जायेगा। उन्होंने डॉ0 वर्तिका नंदा को इस कार्य को आगे भी जारी रखने के लिए शुभकामनायें दी।
उल्लेखनीय है कि यह शोध जेल सुधारक और मीडिया शिक्षिका डॉ. वर्तिका नंदा द्वारा मीडिया, संस्कृति और समाज के डोमेन के तहत किया गया, जिसे आईसीएसएसआर द्वारा अनुमोदित करते हुये ‘उत्कृष्ट’ रूप में मूल्यांकित किया गया है। अध्ययन में मार्च, 2019 से 2020 के बीच एक वर्ष की अवधि को शामिल किया गया। चूंकि महामारी 2020 में शुरू हुई थी, इसलिए अध्ययन में महामारी के दौरान कैदियों की संचार आवश्यकताओं को भी शामिल किया गया।
इस परियोजना के लिए जिला जेल, आगरा को अध्ययन के मुख्य केंद्र के रूप में चुना गया था। यह भारत की सबसे पुरानी जेल इमारतों में से एक है, जिसका निर्माण वर्ष 1741 ई. में हुआ था। इसके अलावा, 5 अन्य जेलों, अर्थात् नारी बंदी निकेतन, लखनऊ, गाजियाबाद, गौतम बुद्ध नगर और बांदा की जिला जेलें और केंद्रीय जेल, नैनी, प्रयागराज को विशेष रूप से अध्ययन के लिए चुना गया था।
उत्तर प्रदेश भारत का सबसे अधिक आबादी वाला राज्य है, जहाँ वर्ष 2018 में महिला कैदियों और उनके बच्चों की संख्या सबसे अधिक दर्ज की गई और यहाँ दोषियों और विचाराधीन कैदियों की संख्या भी सबसे अधिक है। इन तथ्यों को ध्यान में रखते हुए, अध्ययन के लिए पूरे राज्य से 6 प्रमुख जेलों को चुना गया, पूर्वी (बांदा और प्रयागराज), पश्चिमी (गाजियाबाद, गौतम बुद्ध नगर और आगरा) और मध्य उत्तर प्रदेश (लखनऊ)। अध्ययन में दिल्ली जेल, तिहाड़ सहित अन्य भारतीय जेलों से कई संदर्भ भी शामिल किए गए हैं।
डॉ. वर्तिका नंदा जेल सुधारक और मीडिया शिक्षिका हैं, जो जेल सुधारों के लिए पत्रकारिता और शिक्षा के सर्वाेत्तम तरीकों का इस्तेमाल करती हैं। वह तिनका तिनका फाउंडेशन की संस्थापक हैं, जो जेल जीवन को बेहतर बनाने के लिए काम करती है, जिसमें जिला जेल, आगरा और हरियाणा की जेलों में जेल रेडियो की शुरुआत करना शामिल है। उन्होंने जेलों पर तीन किताबें लिखी हैं। उनके तिनका तिनका जेल रेडियो पॉडकास्ट भारतीय जेलों को समर्पित विशेष पॉडकास्ट हैं। भारत के राष्ट्रपति ने 2014 में उन्हें स्त्री शक्ति पुरस्कार से सम्मानित किया। जेल सुधारों पर उनके अनूठे काम के लिए उनका नाम दो बार लिम्का बुक ऑफ रिकॉर्ड्स में भी शामिल किया गया है। जेलों पर उनके काम को 2018 में भारत के सर्वाेच्च न्यायालय ने संज्ञान में लिया था। वर्तमान में, वह दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के लेडी श्री राम कॉलेज में पत्रकारिता विभाग की प्रमुख हैं।
शोध रिपोर्ट में महिला कैदियों द्वारा अनुभव किए जाने वाले एकाकीपन पर प्रभावी रूप से प्रकाश डाला है, जिनकी ज़रूरतें पुरुषों की तुलना में जेलों में शायद ही कभी पूरी हो पाती हैं। जेलों को आमतौर पर पुरुष आबादी की ज़रूरतों को ध्यान में रखते हुए डिज़ाइन किया जाता है। नतीजतन, जेल प्रणाली में प्रवेश करने वाली महिलाओं, बच्चों और ट्रांसजेंडरों को अपर्याप्त स्वास्थ्य सेवा, संचार सुविधाओं, मनोरंजक कार्यक्रमों, व्यावसायिक प्रशिक्षण और रचनात्मक जुड़ावों के कारण कई चुनौतियों का सामना करना पड़ता है। जेलों में उनकी ज़रूरतों को शायद ही कभी ठीक से संबोधित किया जाता है और उन्हें दी जाने वाली सुविधाएँ पुरुषों की तुलना में बहुत कम और अपर्याप्त होती हैं। इस प्रकार, महिला कैदी जेल के अंदर जेल में रहती हैं।
आमतौर पर, जेल कर्मचारियों द्वारा महिला कैदियों को जेल रेडियो में भाग लेने के लिए प्रोत्साहित नहीं किया जाता है। वे मनोरंजन के लिए टेलीविज़न पर बहुत अधिक निर्भर हैं जो जेल के माहौल की गुणवत्ता को और कम करता है।
इस अवसर पर पुलिस महानिदेशक कारागार श्री पी.वी. रामा शास्त्री, प्रमुख सचिव नमामि गंगे श्री अनुराग श्रीवास्तव, प्रमुख सचिव पर्यटन श्री मुकेश कुमार मेश्राम, प्रबंध निदेशक जल निगम (ग्रामीण) डॉ0 राज शेखर, सूचना निदेशक श्री शिशिर सहित अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारीगण आदि उपस्थित थे।