Imphal, October 18 2008: In the absence of sufficient staff, the entire Sajiwa Jail is being guarded by a handful of due to be retired Sepoys and Home Guards, thus causing lot of difficulties in carrying out their duty round the clock.

According to a statement of All Manipur Jail Executive and Welfare Association, apart from one jailor, none of the other required security staff of the jail have been appointed by the Government.

As a consequence, out of the actual requirement of 60 staff in one duty shift, around 10 staff including Sepoys who are above 50 years of age and some Home Guards have been carrying out their duty day and night starting from the gate to all the blocks of the jail.

However, the Govt is trying to mislead the people on the working condition of the jail employees just to cover up its own loopholes, the Association lamented adding that as promotion are not given in time, a situation has come about in which an employee who joined the service as Sepoy would be retiring as Sepoy.

While informing that numerous representatives have been submitted to the Government requesting for appointing adequate staff and modernisation of the jail and agreements to this effect have been even signed with the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary, DGP and IG (Prison) in 2000, the Association rued that no conscious steps have been ever taken up to implement these agreements.

With lack of medical staff, medicine supply and electricity at night as well as failure of appointment the required security staff, it is very likely that the operation of the jail would not be able to carry on for long, the Association noted.

Denouncing undue interference in carrying out their duties by the jail security staff, the Association has also regretted the discriminatory attitude of the jail authorities towards the staff.

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