Maharashtra’s Jail Tourism Initiative – Burning Issues

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On 26^th January, 2021, the Prison Department of Maharashtra launched its jail tourism initiative.
The initiative started with the more than 150-year-old Yerawada Central Prison in Pune.

History of the Yerawada Jail

1866 – Yerawada Central Prison is
- Many leaders of the Indian independence movement were imprisoned here.
January, 1898 to February, 1899 – Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was jailed in this prison.

Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned at Yerawada jail three times —

from March, 1922 to February, 1924,
from January, 1932 to May, 1933, and
for three days in August, 1933.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was imprisoned twice here –

From August, 1930 to November, 1930, and
From January, 1932 to August, 1933.
August, 1930 to December, 1930 – Pandit Motilal Nehru was jailed here.
August 1930 to October 1930 – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned here.

The Chapekar brothers were executed here, in 1899 for assassination of British Plague Commissioner of Pune – WC Rand.
The last execution that the faasi yard witnessed was in November 2012 of Ajmal Kasab.

The Prison Today

Yerawada Central Prison is the largest jail in Maharashtra and one of the largest maximum security prisons in the country.
Today, it has an inmate population of close to 5,000.
It is spread over 500 acres.
The prison complex also has a minimum security open jail and a women’s jail on its premises.
The Gandhi Yard, Tilak Yard and faasi yard are located close to the entry gate of the prison and cells, barracks and high-security areas are located at a distance.
The routine deployment of guards can ensure there are no security concerns during the visit of tourists from outside.

Yerawada Prison, currently houses several high-profile prisoners — both undertrials and convicts — from sensitive cases include those of organised crime, terrorism, extremely violent crimes and also those on the death row.

The Prospect of Jail Tourism

Yerawada Jail has two historic yards, which are groups of cells, named after Gandhi and Tilak.

These will be open to visitors.
These yards do not house inmates.
The visitors will also get to see the ‘faasi’ yard, the area where the death sentence is executed.

A standard operating procedure (SOP) has been put in place for these visits, which has been published on the official website of Maharashtra prison department.
Considering the security and COVID-related safety concerns, initially only 50 persons will be allowed to visit the prison, per day.
Visitors will not be allowed to carry any electronic equipment or eatables.
Currently, only groups from schools, colleges or registered organisations will be allowed, after an application made to Yerawada Prison superintendent, one week in advance.
The prison administration has prohibited researchers working on prison or related issues, from visiting the premises under the jail tourism scheme.
The visitors will not be allowed in any other part of the jail or to interact with any inmate.
A jail official will guide the tour which will be accompanied by three to four jail guards.
Photography and videography of the tour will be done by the prison staff and images from select spots will be provided to the visitors.
Other prospective jails in Maharashtra for Tourism
In Maharashtra, there are 16 functioning prisons that were built in the 19^th
Among them, the oldest is Byculla District Prison in Mumbai which was opened in 1840.
26 prisons were built in Maharashtra, in the pre-independence era.
Many of these prisons in Maharashtra housed leaders of the independence struggle.
Notable among those are the Thane, Nashik, Dhule and Ratnagiri jails.
These will be added to the jail tourism initiative in later phases.
The Swatantrapur Open Jail Colony was set up in 1939.
Some scenes of the 1957 movie Do Aankhen Bara Haath were filmed.