A new CAG report reveals alarming security and management deficiencies in Odisha prisons, including critical staff shortages and inadequate equipment, raising serious concerns about inmate safety and potential escapes.
The CAG has flagged multiple deficiencies in prison management and security in Odisha, citing shortages of infrastructure, manpower and equipment in jails across the state.
The findings were highlighted in a subject-specific compliance audit of prisons, included in one of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India's latest reports.
"As per the Odisha Model Jail Manual-2020, there shall be at least one guard for every six prisoners, and that ratio should be followed in all three shifts," the report said.
It noted that against the requirement of 3,515 guarding staff for managing 21,058 inmates, only 1,680 posts (47.49 per cent) were sanctioned by the government, which was insufficient even for a single shift.
The audit, conducted between June 2023 and February 2024 for the period 2020-21 to 2022-23, found that only 1,282 guarding staff were in position as of March 2023 against the sanctioned strength of 1,680.
"This resulted in a deficiency of 2,233 personnel (65.53 per cent) against norms and a shortage of 398 staff against sanctioned strength," it said.
"In the absence of adequate guard staff, essential functions related to safety and security, custody, welfare of prisoners, as well as smooth operation of jail administration could not be performed," the CAG said.
While examining the records of 15 test-checked jails, the auditor found that essential security equipment required for safe and secure jail administration was either not available or not operational.
It also found that 29 inmates escaped from different jails between 2020 and 2023, of which 12 are yet to be traced and recaptured.
In its reply, the Odisha government in September 2024 said an action plan had been approved for installation of CCTV systems, body-worn cameras, additional video conferencing systems, security poles, Non-Linear Junction Detectors (NLJD), deep search metal detectors, night vision devices and mobile phone detectors under the Modernisation of Prisons Project.
"Proposals for drone cameras on a pilot basis for selected jails have also been made," the report noted, citing the government's reply.
"However, the fact remained that the government did not provide adequate security equipment to the jails, due to which the basic security systems in prisons were absent," the audit said.
The report further stated that no action was taken against erring officials of Special Jail, Bhubaneswar, and District Jail, Balasore, despite recovery of inadmissible items such as mobile phones, SIM cards and ganja.
The CAG also observed that in seven of the 15 sampled jails, watchtowers had not been constructed. In the remaining eight jails, only 31 watchtowers were available against a requirement of 40
The audit also found that the psychiatric prisoners were living inside the jail with other inmates and being treated by the visiting psychiatrist specialists in violation of the codal provisions and instructions of NHRC due to non-availability of separate asylums.