19 February,2009 09:40 AM IST | | Prawesh Lama
Mortality at the Asia's largest prison is at the lowest in the last 15 years
Tihar is not that bad a place to live in!
Statistics say sanitation and health facilities in the prison complex have improved considerably which manifests in the lowest mortality rate among prisoners over the past 15 years.
Thirteen prisoners have died inside the jails as compared to a total of 33 deaths in 2007, according to data available in the special annual report of Tihar Jail. Majority of the prisoners come from the lower strata of the society and are often found to be suffering from many diseases, some contagious ones.
"We conduct a thorough check up on the prisoner and if they are found to be suffering from contagious diseases we keep them separately. We also run regular routine health check ups for the inmates," said a senior prison official.
"We also provide de-addiction facilities to drug addicts," she said.
BK Gupta, Director General, Prisons said, "We provide the best healthcare to the prisoners who are ill. The results just show that."
In the next few months, the whole sewerage system of Tihar will be treated to generate water for toilets and horticulture purpose. According to the jail officials, the two sewerage treatment plants were likely to be completed by 2009.
| Figures speak out |
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The largest number of deaths in a year since the last fifteen years was in 1995 when 39 prisoners had died. Presently, 107 doctors along with 150 paramedical staff are currently working inside the jail staff. Every jail inside the prisons has round the clock dispensaries. |
| u00a0 |
| Deaths in jail over the last 15 Years |
| 1994 - 28 1995 - 39 1996 -20 1997- 25 1998 - 13 1999 - 24 2000 - 25 2001- 24 2002-28 2003- 17 2004-30 2005-26 2006-22 2007-33 2008-13 |
