Psychiatrist and child psychologist working in the field of child development and mental growth say conditions inside Indian prisons are far from satisfactory for a child’s growth and the government needs to take several corrective measures.
The experts say such children go through enormous stress, physical and mental, when they are taken away from their mothers and sent to state-run shelters, which are notorious for their appalling conditions and abuse at the hands of older inmates.
Dr Seema Hingorrany, child psychologist, said: “This is a very tender and formative age for the child and also a catch-22 situation because of the attachment with the mother. Growing up in a prison environment can lead to high chances of neurological/psychological impairment in a child.”
Hingorrany said the experience invites a host of personality disorder along with anxiety and severe depression problem once these children grow up.
Senior prison officials maintain that all the freedom is given to the children but they have to return to their mothers’ barracks in the evening. Consultant psychiatrist at L N Hiranandani Hospital, Dr Harish Shetty, said there has to be provisions as the Juvenile Justice Act and kids should be dealt with compassionately. “They should not be feeling that they are offenders.”
He added, “A simulating environment has to be easily available to the children where emotional agony needs to be addressed. Ideally, separate cells for mother and child should be there, but this is not the case here due to lack of space.”
According to advocate Arfan Sait, “Hygiene is a major problem. Though nutrition is given as per jail manual, one must keep in mind that these are growing children and their dietary needs vary. Also, child care available is of not highest standards. As the children grow, their psychology is affected.”
The lawyer said the situation is very tricky as growth behind walls is always undesired but the mother and child need each other very much.
The Supreme Court in a recent order laid down several guidelines for state governments to follow while dealing with children of women prisoners. Sait said, “The guidelines are very detailed but on ground the situation is different.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}