Seventy per cent of the 7,000 Muslim prisoners in Maharashtra are first-time offenders, who have mostly committed minor crimes, a TISS report has revealed.
According to minorities minister Naseem Khan, these prisoners need rehabilitation, counselling and vocational guidance. He added that the state would be taking all the efforts to provide this.
The minister was speaking after a meeting with joint commissioner of police (ATS) Rakesh Maria, IG (prison) Surendra Kumar and other officials.
According to the report, as many as 33 per cent of the inmates in jail are from the Muslim minority community, and most of them belong to the economically backward class. Of these, 60 to 70 per cent are between the age group of 19 to 30 years.
The minister said that first-time offenders should benefit under the Probationer of Offender’s Act, 1958. “If John Abraham can get the benefit of the Act, why are these people deprived of the same?” the minister asked. Citing a few European countries where criminals are provided legal advice, Mr Khan said, “We are positive about providing similar rehabilitation facilities in the state; we hope that good advocates and solicitor firms come forward to help the state in its efforts.”