Opened in the year 1881, the Central Jail of Baroda was designed based on model of Paris Prison. It’s design was a version of the panopticon system proposed for the creation of safe and humane prisons by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham.
The Jail :
The construction of the new central jail completed during the year 1881 – 82 at the total cost of Rs. 6,72,065. The cell blocks are arranged in radial lines with a surveillance tower at the center from where prisoners could be observed. In earlier times, the jail held about 600 prisoners. It contained rooms for about 1,200 prisoners on the radiating system, a series of solitary cells and a commodious hospital and an accommodation was being provided in its neighborhood for the jail guard and the principal jail employees.
Reformation of Jails :
The jails before the reign of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, were unorganized and had a complete lack of sanitary systems. This often resulted in diseases and frequent deaths of inmates. This condition was drastically changed during his reign for he believed that ‘the prisoners were human and should be given fair treatment especially in the matters of basic needs.’
A completely changed idea of imprisonment was developed, from mere prison to a remedial institution giving opportunities to the culprits to learn, to live better lives after their release. In the year 1883 – 84, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III made a unique experiment for improving moral values in criminals. Accordingly, lectures on common moral values and good behavior were arranged in the jails. Along with this, health facilities and provision of a school was also made for young convicts.
A system was implemented wherein, if the prisoners’s behavior improved, they were given chance to work and earn almost as free men, in a place called Baroda Model Farm. Prisoners were taught handicraft which could help them to excel some skills of it and could take it up as a profession. This would help them getting employment and to avoid idleness which be the general cause of most crimes.
There was a time when excellent carpets, durries, cloth and cane work were manufactured in the Central Jail at Baroda, and in the three District Jails by the prisoners.
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Thus, along with every other institute of the State even the prison system was reformed, so that the convicts also get a second chance at life.
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