Special diet, rehab, stronger security: Tamil Nadu rolls out prison reform package

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has unveiled a wide-ranging prison reform package for 2026-27, combining enhanced security measures with better healthcare, rehabilitation, training and welfare facilities for inmates across the State.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for his department, Law Minister R Nirmalkumar announced that prisoners in all jails would be served a special diet on Tamil Nadu Day on July 18, at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

The government will also raise the monthly purchase limit at prison canteens. For ‘A’ class prisoners, the ceiling will be doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, while the limit for ‘B’ class prisoners will be increased from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500.

De-addiction centres will be established in seven district jails at a cost of Rs 65 lakh, while task-based wages for prisoners engaged in prison industries will be revised. To strengthen security, 400 AI-based CCTV cameras will be installed in central and women’s prisons at a cost of Rs 5.50 crore.

Prison personnel will undergo training in human rights, gender sensitisation, handling prisoners with disabilities and dealing with sexual and Pocso offences. Each of the 13 district jails will get a part-time psychologist, while one doctor and one staff nurse will be engaged in 12 district jails. An Industrial Training Institute will be established at Central Prison-I, Chennai, at Rs 8 crore.

An Integrated Mental Health Centre will be set up at Central Prison, Vellore, for Rs 3.63 crore. A new district jail complex will be established in Tiruvallur at Rs 48.76 crore. The government will also enhance assistance under the Victim Compensation Fund, with specified compensation slabs being raised.