SC Panel’s Findings on the Living Conditions of Women in Indian Prisons

September 6, 2023

A Supreme Court-appointed committee has exposed alarming conditions in Indian prisons, highlighting the dire situation faced by female inmates. The findings reveal that only prisons in Goa, Delhi, and Puducherry allow female prisoners to meet their children without bars or glass separation. Furthermore, less than 40% of prisons in India provide sanitary napkins for female inmates, and 75% of female wards share kitchens and common facilities with male wards. These conditions are particularly challenging for women in incarceration, affecting their access to essential facilities, medical care, legal aid, paid labor, and recreational activities.

What are the key findings of the Supreme Court-appointed committee?

The committee found that female inmates in Indian prisons face inadequate access to basic facilities, medical care, legal aid, and recreational activities. They also often share kitchens and common facilities with male wards.

How has the female prison population in India changed in recent years

Between 2014 and 2019, the female prison population in India increased by 11.7%, and by 2019, women accounted for 4.2% of the total prison population.

Why do only 18% of women prisoners in India have access to exclusive women’s prison facilities?

The report highlights that only 15 states and Union Territories have functional women’s prisons, leading to the lodging of all categories of female prisoners in the same wards and barracks, regardless of whether they are undertrials or convicts.

What are some of the challenges faced by female inmates on the medical front?

Female inmates lack separate medical and psychiatric wards, basic facilities for child delivery, and healthcare professionals to address gender-specific health needs. Additionally, a significant number of states and Union Territories lack psychiatric wards for women inmates.

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