Uttar Pradesh has ordered faster prison reforms across the state, with the prisons department directing jail authorities to strengthen CCTV surveillance, complete pending works within fixed timelines and improve facilities for women prisoners, children living in jails and persons with disabilities. The instructions were issued by director general of prisons and correctional services PC Meena during a statewide review meeting held through video conference from Prisons Headquarters in Lucknow on Friday.
Meena asked prison officials to monitor the progress of pending assignments regularly and prevent delays in implementation. The review covered prison administration, security systems, staffing records, inmate transfers and welfare-related infrastructure across districts.
A key part of the meeting focused on the Human Sampada portal, where the department maintains employee service records and staffing details. Officials were instructed to complete the updating of personnel data and register all departmental posts on priority. According to the directions reported by the Times of India, digitised service records are intended to make administrative processes such as postings, leave and other service-related matters more efficient and transparent.
The department also reviewed the functioning and connectivity of Jarvis CCTV cameras installed in prisons. Meena directed jail authorities to ensure uninterrupted camera coverage and real-time linkage with the central video wall at Prisons Headquarters. The surveillance system is intended to support continuous monitoring of prison activities and strengthen oversight of security and order inside jails.
The review included proposals for transferring inmates to Adarsh Karagars, or model prisons, along with updates on measures to improve prison management and monitoring systems. The department did not provide a statewide completion timeline for the proposed transfers in the information reported about the meeting.
Welfare arrangements for vulnerable inmates formed another part of the review. District-level measures for children living with women prisoners were examined, and officials were directed to ensure regular monitoring and proper care arrangements. The meeting also assessed facilities for prisoners with disabilities, including disability certificates, dedicated meeting areas and accessibility infrastructure such as ramps.
Security arrangements for prisoner meetings were also addressed. Meena directed officials to maintain stringent checks during inmate meetings and strengthen visitor searches to prevent prohibited items from entering prisons. The instructions place surveillance, personnel digitisation, accessibility and welfare within the same statewide administrative review, linking prison security with the functioning of everyday institutional services.
The next stage will depend on district prison authorities completing the pending assignments, updating staff records, maintaining CCTV connectivity and reporting progress through the department’s monitoring process.
