LAHORE: A newly-formed 13-member Punjab Prisons Foundation, in its maiden meeting held recently, took -- what officials believe for the first time in the history of the department -- some important decisions on welfare of jail staff and inmates.

The foundation has raised Rs900 million from rent of jail canteens, contribution of members of PPF and profit earned with 15 per cent ratio on Rs400m (frozen welfare fund of the department) lying in the Bank of Punjab by Nov 30, 2013 to execute several projects.

Around 5,000 jail staffers, who have become members of the PPF notified in January 2013, will get benefit from the foundation resources.

The executive committee (EC) of the foundation headed by Chairman Maj (retired) Azam Suleman Khan, who is also the provincial home secretary, and comprising three members from private sector, approved seven major proposals.

According to minutes of the first meeting, objectives for the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates and prisons staff were: (a) corrective measures to mend moral character of prisoners for transforming them into productive citizen of society, (b) educational facilities to prisoners and prisons staff/dependants, (c) research and implementation of techniques for character building of prisoners and staff as well and (d) provision of basic amenities to prisoners. Reviewing a proposal seeking scholarships from intermediate to masters level and for professional degrees, the committee approved the scholarship programme in principle for deserving bright children of prisons staff. However, the participants were of the view that 60 per cent marks eligibility criteria was not feasible and number of scholarships should also be mentioned in the proposal.

Another proposal seeking funeral grants on deaths of officials, their dependants and officials after retirement was also approved by the EC. All applicants/heir of deceased officials shall be blood relatives of first degree of members of PPF.

Another proposal seeking marriage grant was approved with three amendments. The scheme will be applicable to marriage of two daughters of PPF member, marriage grant will be given @Rs150,000 instead of Rs75,000 (for officer BS-16 and above) and Rs100,000 instead of Rs50,000 for officials from BS-1 to BS-15.

The EC approved three sections of a proposal seeking examination fee for educational purposes, burial expenses for deceased prisoners up to Rs10,000, and ambulance charges for transportation of bodies from jail to native town of deceased prisoners. However, proposal for free legal aid to deserving prisoners up to Rs20,000 and washing & cleaning expenses to needy prisoners up to Rs500 (per month) were turned down.

The EC also approved the proposal of establishment of the PPF office in Shadman Centre and construction of a conference room there.

The meeting also approved appointment of retired officers as administrative officer (BS-18) and accounts officers (BS-16) for one year.

The meeting decided to constitute regional executive committees which would comprise the DIG region concerned, senior superintendent jail of the region and two members from civil society duly approved by the EC. It was decided to hold EC meetings quarterly.

It was decided that the matter of holding lucky draw for Haj/Umrah for serving and retired jail officials shall be deferred for next meeting and Fatwa be obtained from Islamic scholars regarding expenditure from PPF funding.

The EC also decided that the auction committee for the jail canteens would be constituted on regional level.

The committee also approved the previous expenditure of around Rs8m by the PPF.

The EC discussed in detail the issue of installation of PCOs at 32 jails of Punjab, and approved installation of PCOs as pilot project in 10 jails in first phase instead of proposed seven jails.

The EC lastly approved the proposal of audit of PPF accounts with the directions that some renowned audit company shall be selected after proper advertisement and fulfillment of formalities.

Inspector General of Punjab Prisons Mian Farooq Nazeer says the efforts to establish PPF had been started in 1984 and a notification issued in 1996 was withdrawn by the then government over certain objections.

He says the department again took up the matter with the Punjab government in January 2012 and got the PPF notified last year.

He says approximately 5,000 jail officials are regular members of the PPF and contributing Rs50 to Rs200 per month while 7,000 others would join the club in future.