Citing a “sub-optimal” response from several States and Union Territories in implementing the ‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ scheme, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has revised its guidelines, introducing fixed timelines and mandating the involvement of senior officials.
Launched in 2023, the scheme seeks to provide financial assistance to indigent prisoners whose release was stalled solely due to their inability to pay court-imposed fines or furnish bail sureties.
In an advisory, the Ministry noted that implementation across many States and Union Territories had been inadequate, thereby undermining the scheme’s core objective. The Ministry issued revised guidelines aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms and ensuring swift and effective execution.
Urging the States and Union Territories to implement the scheme in letter and spirit, the MHA said it had the potential not only to alleviate the hardships faced by poor prisoners but also help reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Centre allocates ₹20 crore to bail out poor prisoners
