Female inmates in Goa jail deprived of legal aid: NCW

The National Commission for Women (NCW), which visited the Goa Central Jail in Colvale on Wednesday, said it had found that the female inmates do not have sufficient access to legal aid.

"There is a need for more efficient empanelled lawyers. Also there are low hanging fans in the cells which were potential safety hazards," said the Commission.

Currently, there were 21 women inmates - eight convicted and 13 facing trial - in the women's wing of the prison.

The inspection was a part of the NCW's ongoing project to visit all jails in the country with women inmates in order to formulate a manual for comprehensive prison reforms.

According to the Commission, the inspection was carried out for assessing and looking into various aspects including overcrowding, rehabilitation plans including skill development and training, legal awareness and legal help for women inmates, and proper facilities for the children of these inmates among others.

However, the Commission also pointed at the satisfactory basic amenities which were provided to the women inmates like with well-maintained and clean jail premises, and adequate space in the cells for the inmates, nutritious food, proper health facilities along with counselling service and yoga classes.

"The jail authorities have involved NGOs to provide skill training aimed at their rehabilitation like stitching and embroidery courses," it said.

NCW has conducted inspections of Central Prisons in Ambala, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ranchi, Nellore, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Delhi, Kolkata and Mizoram and sent its recommendations to the Women and Child Development Ministry.