After Uttar Pradesh, Odisha has the highest number of mentally ill prisoners in its jails. In 87 jails across the State, over 800 such prisoners are languishing.
According to the information shared by DG (Prisons), Manoj Chhabra, 87 prisons across the State are housing over 800 mentally ill prisoners. While Malkangiri jail is at the top of the list for housing the maximum number of such prisoners, Koraput and Jeypore jails are in second and third spot respectively.
Similarly, according to the information shared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there were 626 mentally ill prisoners in Odisha. In 2020, the number rose to 696. In 2021, the number increased further to 699.
The matter of concern is that Odisha has the second-highest number of such prisoners among all states.
“The number of diagnosed mental patients in jails across the State is over 800. This apart, every prisoner needs mental health care. We have the second largest number of mental health patients after UP,” informed Chhabra.
So why the number of mental patients in jails is increasing? Are they deprived of proper healthcare facilities? Is the delay in trial a factor behind their increased number?
In fact, experts are of the opinion that the mental health condition of those prisoners who are staying behind the bars for a longer period is getting worse.
“They don’t have contact with their children. They don’t have contact with their lives. While many are depressed, many others have drug addiction. This suggests that we have to increase the number of psychiatrists,” observed Dr. Amrit Pattjoshi, a psychiatrist.
Human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo linked the number of custodial deaths to the number of mental patients in jails. “The number of mental patients in jails is increasing. There is a corresponding increase in the number of custodial deaths as well. The government should consider this seriously."
Meanwhile, the Prisons department has taken initiatives for better treatment of mental patients in jails. For this, 33 psychiatrists have been appointed.
“We have recruited 33 persons (psychiatrists). What satisfies me is that this is the single largest requirement at one time in India,” Chhabra added.