The Hindu / Jaideep Shenoy

Mangalore, Nov 3: Undertrials and convicts in prisons across Karnataka would soon have access to WorldSpace radio facility in a phased manner. Twelve major prisons including the central jails at Parapana Agrahara at Bangalore and Mysore and the district jail at Mangalore have already got this facility, according to S T Ramesh, Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons).

Ramesh told that the police personnel who underwent training at the various police training facilities had to follow strict discipline during training. "Recruits and officers need time to relax after their daily routine. WorldSpace radio in the mess and gymnasium was widely welcomed," he said.

Noting that satellite-based radio was a very simple technology, available round the clock, he said the innumerable channels provide diverse yet rich listening fare.

Moreover, this facility was available at a reasonable price, which prisons in the State could spend out of its budget. On reasons for providing this facility, Ramesh said that prisoners need some source of diversion. The National Human Rights Commission too emphasises on prisoners getting adequate time for relaxation, he said.

Prisons can utilise their existing public address system to broadcast select programmes. The prison officer can control timings of such broadcasts.

The nominal investment that prisons make on this venture was worth the cost for it would definitely go a long way in de-stressing prisoners during their period of captivity, he said.