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Sharif Parkar, the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict who was suffering from paralysis and dementia passed away in Nashik jail, reportedly due to lack of proper treatment. dna’s Naziya Alvi Rahman
spoke with principal secretary home (prison department) Vijay Satbir Singh about the issue and medical facilities available in Maharashtra’s 40-odd prisons. Edited excerpts: DO YOU AGREE
THERE WERE LAPSES AT THE END OF JAIL AUTHORITIES IN GETTING PARKAR THE RIGHT TREATMENT? As per my knowledge, he was rushed to hospital in time and he passed away in the civil hospital, not
in the jail premises. As of now, I have not received any complaint of medical negligence or any other kind of negligence. I have, however, called for a report. If at all, we find any
negligence on the part of any officer, we will definitely take action. PARKAR WAS 83 YEARS OLD AND SUFFERING FROM PARALYSIS AND DEMENTIA, WHICH MADE HIM MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY UNSTABLE TO
SERVE A JAIL TERM. WAS IT APPROPRIATE ON THE PART OF JAIL AUTHORITIES TO CONTEST HIS FAMILY’S PETITION IN THE COURT, ASKING FOR TREATMENT IN MUMBAI INSTEAD OF NASHIK? The officers must have
gone by medical advice. Also, sometimes leniency is not shown considering the nature of the crime. This particular convict was involved in the 1993 bomb blasts case. JAILS ACROSS MAHARASHTRA
ARE BELIEVED TO BE LAGGING BEHIND IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND MEDICAL FACILITIES. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE KEY RESULT AREAS (KRA) SET FOR PRISONS INCLUDED IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL FACILITIES AS THE
KEY THING. HOW FAR HAVE WE REACHED ON THAT FRONT? We are constantly working on improving the living conditions of inmates. In the budget passed for jails earlier this year, we earmarked a
large sum for the improvement of medical facilities, such as adding more ambulances, having a more senior and well-trained team of doctors in the prison 24x7. The biggest step that we have
taken, however, is to make it mandatory in our new jail manual that is scheduled to be released today. IS THERE ANY INNOVATIVE SCHEME OR PROJECT FOR OVERALL IMPROVEMENT OF MEDICAL FACILITIES
FOR INMATES? Yes. In a first, we are working on a public-private partnership (PPP) module, wherein private hospitals, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will send teams
of expert doctors to our jails when the need arises. This idea, however, is at an initial stage and I won’t be able to give too many details. I am confident it will materialise soon.