RAWALPINDI, Oct 26 : There are about 1,002 juvenile prisoners in Punjab, with 80 per cent of them being under-trial in the two jails especially for children in Bahawalpur and Faisalabad, Borstal jails, according to the book, State of Children in Punjab.
The department accelerated construction of Borstal Jail at Faisalabad during 1999-2000. Other efforts include setting up of a proper certified school at Sahiwal jail. The school currently accommodates 16 children under 14 years.
The book discloses that juvenile under-trial prisoners are usually kept with adult inmates in the jail. Youthful Offenders Ordinance framed in 1953 and yet not operational, provides that prisoners under 14 years of age must be kept separated from adult inmates.
Through special coordination efforts of the department of social welfare, the long awaited notification for the Ordinance has now been issued, thus enabling segregation of young children from adult prisoners.
The book admitted that conditions have not changed much with the passage of time and junior inmates are facing almost similar circumstances as in 90s.
It quotes a survey of the juvenile sections of Lahore District and Central jails conducted in February 1993. It revealed that the two jails had 200 inmates ranging between the ages of 12 and 21 years. They are detained for theft, dacoit, abduction, murder, ammunition and pick pocketing.
The survey found that children are not treated as under- trials should be, that is, innocent till proven guilty. More than 52 per cent have spent more than 2 months in jails and 36 per cent for more than four months. As many as 56 per cent claimed to have no legal aid at all, while others are helped by the families.
It was also found that there are no recreational facilities in jails, no TV, radio or reading material for the children. They are locked in barracks from 4pm to 6am every day.
Older inmates allegedly sexually abuse these children. They are given religious education for two hours, but no formal schooling in reading and writing.
