Prisoners in Haryana to get telephone calling facility

Haryana government will provide telephone calling facility to prisoners lodged in various jails of the state to two pre-specified telephone or mobile numbers twice a week.
It will lessen the stress of the prisoners as they will remain in touch with their families and also number of visitors to the jails will also reduce, said Yash Pal Singal, Director General, Prisons.
The facility is being installed, he said, adding that it will start functioning by the end of this financial year.
The prisoners will be allowed to call two pre-specified telephone or mobile numbers for a maximum of five minutes each twice a week.

He said that the facility is based on biometric identification system.
"Whenever a prisoner has to make a call, he will approach phone booth and identify himself by putting his finger print on the biometric scanner and if the finger print matches, it will display the name of the prisoner along with pre-specified numbers as provided by prisoner on his entry in the Jail," the officer said.
To proceed with the call, the prisoner will just have to touch one of the numbers.