The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the ‘Support to Poor Prisoners’ Scheme with the objective of providing financial relief to poor and indigent prisoners who are unable to secure their release from prison due to non-payment of bail amount or fine on account of financial constraints. Detailed guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for implementation of the scheme have been shared with States and Union Territories.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing the Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme with the objective of providing financial assistance to poor and indigent prisoners who are unable to secure their release from prison due to their inability to pay the required bail amount or fine on account of financial constraints.
Detailed guidelines and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for implementation of the Scheme have been shared with all States and Union Territories. As per the prescribed framework, States and UTs are required to constitute Empowered Committees at the district level and an Oversight Committee at the State/UT Headquarters level to identify eligible prisoners and facilitate the implementation of the Scheme.
The Empowered Committees are authorised to approve financial assistance of up to ₹1 lakh towards bail amounts and up to ₹25,000 towards payment of fines. Proposals involving bail amounts exceeding ₹1 lakh or fine amounts exceeding ₹25,000 are referred to the Oversight Committee for consideration and approval.
The guidelines and SOP also prescribe timelines for the processing of cases and provide for simplified procedures for the drawal and utilisation of funds to facilitate the timely release of eligible prisoners.