Short Essay on Nav Jiwan Shivir at Lakhimpur (M.P.)
Encouraged by the success of Mungaoli Open Jail, the Government of Madhya Pradesh had started another open Jail at Lakhimpur in Panna district of the State in 1972. This open jail was established primarily for the rehabilitation of surrendered dacoits from Bundelkhand region.
This open jail could accommodate only fifty surrendered dacoits. It extended over 124.75 acres of land, of which 12.75 acres was used for buildings and structures while the remaining 112 acres was meant for agriculture. Adequate irrigation facilities were available for inmates to carry on farming on this land.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The major objective of the Nav Jiwan Shivirs at Mungaoli and Lakhimpur was to provide individualised treatment, resocialisation and rehabilitation of surrendered dacoits and hardened offenders. These Shivirs permitted freedom of movement to inmates in local society subject to limitations of prison-rules.
These open-prisons offered adequate opportunities to inmates to restructure their lives under trained and experienced prison personnel. Expert guidance was provided for vocational and industrial training and physical fitness. These Shivirs also helped in strengthening the familial and public ties of the dacoit-prisoners.
The life in the Shivirs sought to develop self-discipline among the inmates thereby enabling them to lead a disciplined social life and ‘shed off their aggressive attitude. This Shivir was also wound up and closed consequent to the eradiction of dacoit problem from the State.
The Madhya Pradesh Jail Committee, in 1974 had recommended the setting up of a third Nav Jiwan Shivir in Bastar District of Madhya Pradesh. It was to be set up exclusively for women prisoners. But keeping in view the financial implications and also non-utilization of the existing two open jails to their full capacity, the proposal was finally dropped.