Delhi: 44 deliveries at Tihar Jail in 10 years

NEW DELHI: In the past 10 years, Tihar Jail authorities have aided 44 woman inmates in the delivery of their babies. Nine deliveries were facilitated in 2012 and eight in 2015. Jail authorities claim that they provide all medical facilities to pregnant inmates as per the revised jail manual enforced last year.
Sources said the manual was revised in 2012 after a woman named Sonia Mann, who was jailed in a cheating case, underwent an unassisted delivery within the jail premises because of which her newborn suffered an injury and died.
Currently, there are two pregnant prisoners, one of them being anti-CAA activist Safoora Zargar. While Zargar is lodged at Tihar, the other inmate is at Mandoli Jail. Apart from regular check-ups, facilities will be provided for their deliveries, when required. The two women are being kept in different sections, away from the other inmates to avoid confrontation and stress.
As per the revised manual, a woman medical officer would be assigned to each inmate to conduct a pregnancy test at the time of admission and once each month. The gynae examination would be done at the jail hospital and proper prenatal care would be provided on the advice of the medical officer.
The prisoner would be allowed to visit nearby government hospitals along with a jail staffer on the recommendation of the medical officer. The inmate would be admitted to a hospital for the delivery on the recommendations of a doctor. Adequate arrangements would have to be made at the hospital a day before the delivery. The prisoner would be taken back to jail only after the recommendation of the examining doctor. “The prison will not be recorded as the place of birth. Only the address of the locality will be mentioned,” said an officer.