Bihar's Purnia Jail to install ATM for prisoners to withdraw cash

Bihar’s Purnia central jail will be installing an ATM so that prisoners can withdraw money for their daily use. This is the first time any prison is installing an Automated Teller Machine in the premises.

Purnia central jail superintendent Jitendra Kumar said that inmates will have an ATM card, and they can use it to buy items of daily use like soaps, hair oil, and eatables, among others. He further said that the move is aimed towards preventing the inmates' family members from crowding the jail gate to hand over cash to them.

 “We have written a letter to the SBI in this regard and we do hope the ATM will be installed inside the jail in a fortnight. Out of 750 inmates, 600 have their accounts in various banks and 400 have been issued ATM cards and the rest would get it soon.” Kumar said.

A Hindusthan Times report stated that the prison inmates work for 4 to 8 hours, and they are paid Rs 52 to Rs 103. These wages are directly transferred to their in their accounts.

As per rules mentioned in the jail manual, each inmate is allowed to keep up to Rs 500 cash. Till January 2019, the prisoners were paid by cheques and after that they have been receiving their wages in bank accounts.