Berhampur: Established in 1863 during the British era, the Circle Jail here is one of the oldest prisons in Odisha, with 23 subjails in undivided Ganjam, Puri, and Phulbani districts functioning under it. However, several inmates of the jail here suffer from depression and psychological issues in the absence of specialist doctors in the jail. This may pose serious problems for the other occupants in the future, a report said. People who spend more time in jail are likely to suffer from depression after losing their mental balance, and the condition worsens if they are left untreated, say health experts.
At present, 838 inmates, including 18 females, have been kept in the jail. Of these, 179 are convicts, while others are under-trial prisoners (UTP). Most importantly, 21 of them, including one female, suffer from serious psychological disorders and need expert advice. However, in the absence of psychiatrists, the condition of existing psychiatric patients is not only deteriorating; the number of such patients is also on the rise, the report added.
Earlier, the authorities had taken a decision to appoint a psychiatric social worker and a clinical psychologist to address the issue as cases of psychological disorders were rising. The Director General Manoj Kumar Chhabra, in a bid to address the issue, had promised in April that competent psychiatrists will be appointed during the first week of May but no one has been posted so far. Reacting to the development, Berhampur Circle jailer Satyanarayan Behera said that approval has come for the appointment of two doctors, and they will take charge soon. After the appointment of a specialist psychiatrist, the inmates who suffer from psychological disorders will get better treatment, added Behera.
