🏥 Prison Healthcare in Crisis
The 2025 report paints a troubling picture of India’s prisons, marked by rising inmate numbers, outdated infrastructure, and an overburdened health system.
🚨 Rising Overcrowding
- Inmate population grew from 3.8 lakh (2012) to 5.7 lakh (2022); projected to hit 6.8 lakh by 2030.
- Prison capacity is lagging—currently 4.3 lakh, with a projection of only 5.15 lakh by 2030.
- Occupancy rate: Up to 131% nationally (from 112% in 2012); Maharashtra jumped from 99% to 161%.
- Overcrowding fuels poor hygiene, disease outbreaks, and puts heavy pressure on existing infrastructure.
🧑⚕️ Shortage of Medical Personnel
- 43% of medical officer positions in prisons remain vacant.
- The doctor-to-inmate ratio is 1:775, far below the recommended 1:300 in the Model Prison Manual (2016).
- This shortage impacts both routine and emergency healthcare, including forensic and chronic disease management.
🧠 Mental Health: A Hidden Emergency
- Only 25 psychologists serve all of India’s prisoners—1 per 22,929 inmates.
- Standard: 1 per 500 (not met by any state or UT).
- Mental illness cases doubled in 10 years: 4,470 (2012) → 9,084 (2022).
- Out of 69 sanctioned posts, fewer than half are filled.
- 25 States/UTs have no mental health staff in prisons.
- Consequences: Higher suicide risk, unaddressed behavioural issues, and relapse among substance users.
♿ Disability Data: The Invisible Gap
- There’s no national data on inmates with pre-existing or acquired disabilities.
- This hampers tailored reform efforts and violates principles of inclusive justice and legal protection.
✅ Recommendations by IJR 2025
- Recruit medical and mental health professionals in prisons as a priority
- Expand prison infrastructure to accommodate rising inmate numbers
- Publish regular health and disability data from prison systems
- Promote decongestion through bail reform, community service, and alternatives to imprisonment
🧭 The Road Ahead
As India progresses on the economic and technological front, its correctional infrastructure must evolve in parallel to uphold inmate dignity, health, and human rights. The IJR urges systemic reforms to bring India’s prison system in line with international standards.