Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria today visited Burail Jail to review various facilities, welfare measures, skill development initiatives and healthcare services being provided to inmates. The Administrator was accompanied by UT Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad and other officials of the Administration.
During the visit, the Administrator reviewed the jail kitchen and its menu, inspected the variety of dishes being prepared and tasted the food to assess its quality. He also examined the modern kitchen equipment installed, interacted with the kitchen staff and shared useful cooking tips.
During his interaction with women prisoners, Kataria patiently listened to their appeals and expressed concern for undertrial prisoners who lack family or social support for pursuing bail.
In the sweets section, he reviewed the preparation of sweets by prisoners, checked quality standards and was briefed by officials about the cold storage facilities available. He was also informed about the daily wages being paid to prisoners engaged in such work.
At the Jeevan Dhara Industrial Training Institute (ITI) functioning within the jail, Kataria reviewed the ongoing ITI courses in which prisoners, who have passed Class X, are enrolled for formal vocational training. He interacted with instructors and prisoner-students, reviewed their academic progress and encouraged inmates with prior experience to further enhance skills. He advised officials to explore tie-ups with various institutions of the Chandigarh Administration to provide repair and maintenance work.
In the women jail, he reviewed the kitchen facilities and menu. He also checked the library-cum-reading room and ITI-related activities available for women inmates.
Kataria interacted with the music instructor, who shared that several undertrial prisoners were showing interest in music activities. He also reviewed the centralised radio station and public address system.
Reviews facilities at Manimajra
The Governor also visited Manimajra to review healthcare, education and public utility facilities, with a focus on citizen welfare and service delivery.
During a visit to the Civil Hospital, Manimajra, doctors briefed the Administrator about the registration and payment windows, emergency OPD and the functioning of the emergency ward. The Administrator interacted with patients present in the emergency ward and inquired about their treatment and recovery status.
Thereafter, he reviewed facilities, including surgery and orthopaedic OPDs, labour room and children’s ward, where he interacted with patients, attendants and hospital visitors, and listened to their feedback regarding healthcare services.
At Government Model High School, Manimajra, the Administrator was welcomed by Education Secretary Prerna Puri. He interacted with students in smart classrooms and inquired about their academic progress. Teachers briefed the Administrator about the Balvatika (pre-primary section), highlighting activity-based learning methods designed to help children grasp concepts quickly and effectively.
At Indra Colony, the councillor highlighted the proposal for a dispensary and added that the required land had already been allocated. The Administrator assured that the matter was under consideration and that appropriate action would be taken in due course.
Dining and Cooking