0-6 years: How prison officials are trying to give kids of women inmates a decent start in Delhi

Abstract

From helping women inmates in prenatal and postnatal stages, to vaccination of children and giving them pre-primary education, this is how prison authorities are looking after children who stay with their mothers inside jails.

Currently, 26 children are living with their mothers inside the prisons. While there are 19 in Central Jail number six of Tihar, seven are in jail number 16 in Mandoli. They are aged 0-6 years. “A gynaecologist regularly visits the prisons every week for checkup of female inmates. Pregnant inmates are given all medical facilities and lady doctors are there round the clock for help,” said an official.

A doctor said, “The inmates ask counsellors and doctors about their delivery and the health of their children. They are guided properly and also briefed about the pregnancy and then asked to inform us about issues. Proper diet plans are made for lactating mothers and pregnant women according to the jail manual. Every year there are five to six such cases.”

Post delivery, the newborn and the mother, on the advice of the doctor, return to the prison. “For a few days, both the mother and child are kept under observation in an eight-bedded room. There is a separate barrack for inmates with children,” the doctor said. [Read More]