J&K Prisons Plan Rs 8.5 Crore Food Upgrade, Adding Milk, Eggs and Dry Fruits to Inmates’ Meals

The proposed improvements will cover Central Jail Kot Bhalwal and District Jail Jammu. According to reports, the initiative is being led by Director General of Prisons, J&K, Deepak Kumar, and is expected to be extended to other major prisons across the Union Territory following its initial implementation.

The revised menu is expected to include a wider variety of pulses, milk, vegetables, dry fruits, dates and eggs, offering inmates a more varied and nutritionally balanced diet. Reports also mention traditional Kashmiri food items, including *haak* and *nadru*, while mutton is reportedly included for non-vegetarian inmates.

The initiative is intended to strengthen the nutritional standards of prison meals and reduce the risk of deficiencies among inmates. The proposed procurement allocation is expected to support the supply of the additional food items under the revised arrangements.

J&K Prison System Faces Capacity Pressure

The food initiative comes as the Union Territory's prison system accommodates a population well above its sanctioned lodging capacity.

Jammu and Kashmir has 14 functional prisons, comprising two central jails, 10 district jails, one special jail and one sub-jail. Against a combined capacity of 3,629 inmates, the department is accommodating more than 5,300 prisoners.

The department provides correctional services in an environment intended to support rehabilitation and reformation. Improving food quality is one aspect of inmate welfare, alongside healthcare, sanitation, security and access to other essential services.

Prison Management Reforms

The department also operates the Institute of Correctional Services at Mishriwala, a training centre that provides basic and refresher training related to prison management. A holding centre also functions under its control.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has also notified the Prison Manual, 2022, which governs the superintendence and management of prisons in the Union Territory. The manual has been prepared along the lines of the Model Prison Manual.

The proposed food-menu changes are expected to begin at the two identified Jammu facilities before being considered for expansion to other major jails across Jammu and Kashmir.