Gonsalves claimed that the prison authorities do not care about human life, which is the reason why the prisoners have to face the apathy of the system every year.
Mumbai-based Vernon Gonsalves, a social activist, writer and member of the trade union movement, was jailed from 2007 to 2013 on charges of being a Naxalite leader who was in possession of explosives. Gonsalves has always pleaded his innocence, saying that the police framed him on false charges. A section of civil society has always lent him its support and believed his version of events. In a chat with dna, Gonsalves described his experience of jail during the monsoons.
Gonsalves said jail was a pathetic place, especially in the rains. He said that the place became a breeding ground for diseases during the wet season, and that the situation has been the same for years. Gonsalves claimed that the prison authorities do not care about human life, which is the reason why the prisoners have to face the apathy of the system every year.
"There is no much difference in the city's current prison system and the one ten years ago. The main problem is that the system does not have a respect for human life. Now that we are speaking on the issue of water clogging, I would say that the prisoners inside the jail are forced to stay in a situation where there is water-logging and it gives rise to a number of monsoon-related diseases. In Arthur Road prison, there are barracks on the ground floor as well as on the first floor. Only high-security cells like the Anda Cell do not have a barrack on the first floor."
He continued, "Once the rain stops, the water stagnates and it gives rise to multiple monsoon-related diseases, which bring down a number of prisoners."
He said that the origin of diseases could be traced to the toilets. "Another thing which causes health issues in prisoners is that the toilets which the prisoners use are the common toilets, and they are placed on the ground floor of the prison. When the water enters the prison premises, it also enters the toilets, and since there is no sanitation maintained, diseases spread more rapidly."
Gonsalves also mentioned overcrowding as a reason for the poor sanitation. "The third and most important issue is with the overcrowding of jails. If you call up the jail authorities, they will tell you the number of prisoners lodged in the jail."
This correspondent called up the jail authorities, who said that there were 2,700 prisoners lodged inside Arthur Road jail.
He added, "It is a very small jail and people are pushed to stay inside the jail. If the jail authorities move some of the prisoners to the new jail which they have built up in Taloja, it would be easier for the authorities to manage few prisoners, but the authorities have failed time and again."
){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}
){kind=small}