Andhra prisons raising children of jailed women

Why should children pay the price for their mother’s sin? This policy is being followed by the prison authorities at the two special prisons at Chanchalguda and Rajahmundry. They have taken up the responsibility of raising 20 children (in the age group of 1-6 years) of some women prisoners, who are single mothers, lodged there. A special diet and elementary education is being provided to the kids, whose mothers are either undertrials or convicts.

The AP Prisons Department has taken this initiative as per the guidelines laid down by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). A women serving life sentence in a murder case said on condition of anonymity, “I was four-anda- half months pregnant when I came to the prison in 2010. I delivered the baby girl here and she is now two years old. I am happy that she is growing up with all the facilities which I could not have provided her with.” She said that her daughter is healthier than her relatives’ children at her native village, who often pay her a visit. “The nutritious diet provided to my daughter is the only reason behind her being healthy,” she explained.

However, when the child crosses the age of 6 years, he/she is handed over to her mother’s relatives, if she had not completed her term. If the mother does not have any relative, then the child would be sent to government child welfare hostels or children’s homes. “In the past one year, about eight children who were raised here were sent to the Venkateshwara Charitable Trust and Old Age Home in Jeedimetla for their further education,” said Basheera Begum, superintendent of Chanchalguda special prison for women.

Prisons director-general T P Das said a prison may not be the best place to raise these kids but the mother can at least look after her child. “Also, raising the children helps reform the mothers which ensures them quick parole,” he says.