'No proposal to install colour TVs, DVDs in Bihar jails'

The Nitish Kumar government today categorically said it has no plans to install colour TVs and DVDs in jails in the state to replace Black and White ones.

This was stated by minister in-charge for Home Vijay Chaudhary in reply to a short notice question of BJP's Arun Shankar Prasad.

The Minister said a proposal was prepared by Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (BELTRON) on behalf of the Prison department in 2013 for colour TVs and DVDs but it did not receive government approval.

Chaudhary said there were 31,259 prisoners, 30,159 males and 1,100 females, in 56 jails in Bihar at present. The Minister denied that refusal to install colour TVs in jails violated human rights of prisoners.

Chaudhary said instead of spending on colour TVs, the government was spending money on installation of CCTVs and facilitating video conferencing for safe production of undertrials in courts and to maintain peace in jails.