Cabinet Approval Paves Way for Recruitment Drive to Address Maharashtra Prison Staff Shortage
Mumbai, 16th August 2023: The state cabinet has greenlit a significant recruitment effort aimed at bolstering the workforce within Maharashtra’s correctional facilities. The move comes after a lengthy hiatus, as the last recruitment drive took place in 2006. The dire need for additional personnel has prompted the decision to onboard 1,700 constables and 300 officers across various jails. Presently, the prison department grapples with a shortfall of 400 constables, exacerbating concerns over operational efficiency.
Anticipated to span eight months, the comprehensive recruitment process will be followed by an intensive one-year training regimen. In an endeavor to further modernize the department, discussions are underway with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) regarding the enlistment of 215 technical personnel. Furthermore, a proposal to integrate officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS) into the role of senior superintendents has been tabled; however, no expressions of interest have been received thus far.
A senior official from the home department revealed that the file is currently under review by the finance department. Subsequently, a government resolution detailing the specifics of the initiative will be disseminated in due course.
An imbalance in staffing has been evident within the state’s nine central prisons. The model prison manual mandates a senior superintendent at the helm of each institution, yet this criterion remains unmet. Additionally, the prescribed ratio of one constable per six undertrials/convicts contrasts starkly with the actual situation, wherein each constable is responsible for overseeing 21 to 28 individuals. Moreover, the absence of a deputy inspector general post further underscores the need for comprehensive workforce enhancements.
To address these vacancies, promotions will be utilized to fill the positions of superintendents, senior superintendents, and deputy inspector generals. Concurrently, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission will manage the recruitment of jailors and deputy superintendents.
Presently, the prison department comprises 5,100 personnel. With the pressing need for 400 additional constables, the timeline for rectifying this shortage is anticipated to extend over a year. “We estimate that recruiting and adequately training new staff will require eight months and nearly a year, respectively,” noted a senior official.
Amitabh Gupta, additional director general of police (prison), articulated, “The state cabinet’s sanction is a pivotal step forward, with an imminent government resolution pending. Alongside this development, discussions are ongoing with TCS to secure technical personnel. As we expand our footprint with the establishment of four new correctional facilities, the Palghar, Ahmednagar, Turbhe, and Yerwada jails, the demand for personnel is projected to surge, necessitating the addition of approximately 900 employees.”
