South Indian jails top mentally ill prisoners' list

Hyderabad: A recent survey of mentally unstable prisoners across the country by the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) has revealed that the South Indian states have the most such prisoners.

Karnataka and Kerala top the list with 383 and 305 such prisoners respectively, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are third and fourth with 144 and 133 mentally unstable prisoners respectively (Figures are for 2016).  

The report says that the negligence of prison staff and the violation of human rights in prisons are leading to an increase in the number of mentally unstable prisoners.

Inspector General of Prisons, Akula Narasimha, said that the director-general of prisons of Telangana, Vinoy Kumar Singh, had identified one of the main causes for this condition being addiction to alcohol, drugs and smoking. He banned these in the state prisons state two years ago.

“After banning of restricted items like ganja, alcohol, cigarettes, beedi etc, inside prisons, the number of deaths came down and the mental condition of prisoners improved. Yoga and meditation were also introduced,” Mr Narasimha said.
Mr Narasimha said that compared to other states, Telangana has more manpower, with one staff for every eight prisoners.

“We are providing counselling by psychologists and psychiatrists to first time offenders to help stabilise their minds and prevent them from feeling isolated. Prominent consultants regularly visit Telangana prisons and provide treatment to such prisoners. Some prisoners are sent to the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda and 133 prisoners got treatment last year at the hospital,” he said.