Haryana Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday announced a comprehensive package of career progression, financial incentives and welfare measures for jail warders and head warders, addressing long-standing service-related anomalies and significantly improving their working conditions. The announcements are aimed at strengthening morale, efficiency and professionalism within the State’s prison administration.
Under the new measures, jail warders will now be promoted to the post of Head Warder after 18 years of service. Officers and employees who receive the Correctional Service Medal will be granted a one-year extension in service. The Chief Minister also announced that jail warders and head warders will be entitled to allowances at par with police constables.
Meanwhile, in a major financial boost, the ration allowance has been increased two-and-a-half times to Rs.1,500, effective from the next financial year. The conveyance allowance has been raised from Rs. 50 to Rs. 720, while the uniform allowance has been enhanced to Rs. 7,500.
The Chief Minister made these announcements while addressing the first Convocation parade ceremony of newly trained officers and warders at the Jail Training Academy, Karnal, where he attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He said that these reforms would significantly improve the motivation and functional efficiency of prison personnel across the State.
Describing the occasion as deeply inspiring, the Chief Minister said the sacred land of Karnal was witnessing a powerful display of discipline, duty and patriotism. He said that the ceremony was equally a moment of pride for parents, who could see confidence and satisfaction reflected in their children wearing the uniform.
Expressing happiness at being part of the first convocation parade ceremony of the newly constructed academy, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said the event marked a crucial milestone in the trainees’ journey of service, dedication and responsibility, achieved through rigorous training, self-discipline and perseverance. He congratulated all 116 newly inducted Assistant Superintendents and Warders, noting with pride that the batch included one woman Assistant Superintendent and eight women warders, calling it a commendable step towards women’s participation and empowerment.
Prisons as centres of reform, not just punishment
The Chief Minister emphasised that a convocation parade ceremony in any uniformed service does not merely signify the completion of training, but represents a mental, physical and moral transformation that prepares a trainee to shoulder public responsibility.
He described the prison system as a highly sensitive and vital pillar of a democratic society, stating that prisons are not just places of punishment but laboratories of reform, rehabilitation and human transformation. Reaffirming the State government’s commitment to this philosophy, he said Haryana was consistently strengthening prison reforms, inmate welfare and modern prison management in the long-term interest of society.
Modern training and expanding prison infrastructure
Nayab Singh Saini said he was pleased to learn that trainees at the Karnal academy had been equipped with modern training methods, including modules on human rights, psychological understanding, legal nuances, physical fitness and ethical values. The uniform is not a symbol of authority, but of responsibility, he remarked.
Highlighting the growing challenges faced by prison personnel amid changing social realities, technological advancement and evolving crime patterns, the Chief Minister underlined the importance of maintaining discipline with humanity, ensuring inmate rehabilitation and guiding prisoners towards reintegration into society.
Recalling the inauguration of the Jail Training Academy on May 21, 2025, he said the institution had been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to impart advanced training. He added that the government had taken several steps to modernise prisons, including infrastructure strengthening, digitisation, e-jail systems, video conferencing, skill development programmes and expanded healthcare services.
All processes, from inmate admission to release, accommodation, food, meetings, medical care, court production and canteen management, have been fully computerised, he said. Skill development courses are being run in prisons to ensure inmates can secure respectable employment after release. ITI diploma and polytechnic courses have been introduced in five prisons, and an MoU has been signed with the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam to facilitate employment for trained inmates.
To promote rehabilitation through employment, petrol pumps have been set up in eight prisons, with four more to become operational next month.
Technology-driven prison management
The Chief Minister said jail radio stations are operational in Central Jail Ambala, Central Jail-I Hisar and district jails at Faridabad, Panipat, Gurugram, Karnal, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra. As many as 335 video conferencing systems have been installed across prisons to enable online court appearances. Libraries with quality reading material have been set up in all jails.
He also informed that construction of a high-security prison at Rohtak, equipped with advanced security systems and technologies for hardened criminals, is in the final stage.
Call for integrity and continuous learning
Appealing to the newly recruited personnel, Nayab Singh Saini urged them to uphold integrity, discipline and duty above all else, and never succumb to temptation, pressure or fear. He stressed that sensitivity, compassion and adherence to the law must guide their conduct, noting that a single positive action by a prison officer can change the course of an individual’s life.
He emphasised the importance of lifelong learning, stating that training never truly ends. Experience, study and self-reflection will make you more capable. Technology, rule awareness and human values together define an outstanding prison officer, he said, assuring full government support for capacity building.
On this occasion, he congratulated the Principal of the Jail Training Academy, the instructors, and the entire staff, who provided high-quality training within a limited period. Their hard work is clearly reflected today in your parade, discipline, and confidence. This academy is the backbone of Haryana’s prison administration, and its contribution will always be remembered.
He further said that wherever you are posted, you should bring pride to the department, the state, and the nation through your work, live up to the trust of your families, and play your role in establishing justice, security, and humanity in society. He said that this convocation parade ceremony marks a new beginning in your life. I have full confidence that all of you will discharge your duties with complete dedication, courage, and sensitivity, and will make a valuable contribution toward making Haryana a safe and humane state, said Nayab Singh Saini.
Speaking on the occasion, Cooperation, Jails, Elections, Heritage and Tourism Minister, Dr. Arvind Kumar Sharma congratulated the trainees and thanked the Chief Minister for his continued support. He said the prison department faced no shortage of resources under Sh. Nayab Singh Saini’s leadership and jail structures have been rapidly improved. Emphasising that prisons are centres of reform and reconstruction, he said prison officers must balance firmness with sensitivity, ensuring that inmates emerge as better citizens. As a jail officer, your role is not limited to that of a guard alone; you are also a guide, a disciplinarian and, at times, a teacher. We are working in an era where the nature of crime is changing, social challenges are becoming more complex, and awareness about human rights has increased. In such a scenario, the role of prison administration becomes even more significant. Upholding the rule of law while maintaining a humane outlook is the true hallmark of an exemplary prison officer. Our goal should be that when an inmate leaves the prison, he or she emerges as a better citizen, ready to reintegrate into the mainstream of society, he added
Director General, Prisons, Alok Mittal said that today’s historic and proud occasion is of great importance for the Haryana Prisons Department. The first convocation parade ceremony of trainees from the newly constructed Jail Academy in Karnal, is not just the completion of a training programme but also an important step towards the modernisation and professional efficiency of the department. He said that the Haryana government is taking concrete steps to make the prison system modern and reformative, and assured that Haryana would emerge as one of the best states in the country in terms of prison reforms.
He said that ensuring no criminal activities are operated from within prisons is the department’s highest priority. To effectively control the misuse of mobile phones, 10 V-Kavach systems are being installed in six jails, while the T-HCBS system is already operational at Central Jail, Ambala. To strengthen security in prisons, modern equipment such as DSMD, HHMD, and baggage scanners are being used.Around 1,500 CCTV cameras have been installed in all prisons to ensure 24-hour monitoring.
He added that the provisions related to prisons under the new criminal justice codes are being fully implemented. At present, 453 video conferencing systems are functional in jails, and 82 per cent of prisoner court appearances are being conducted through video conferencing, with a target to increase this to 90 per cent within the next two months. Medical examination facilities are also being provided in prisons.
Earlier, Principal, Jail Training School, Karnal Naresh Goyal administered the oath to the trainees.
MLA, Jagmohan Anand, Mayor, Renu Bala Gupta and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
*CM to felicitate medal winners of the 38th National Games on February 9: Sports Minister Gaurav Gautam*
*CM to inaugurate the CM Cup-2025: Gaurav Gautam*
*Ceremony to be held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurugram*
*Haryana’s Sports Policy among the best in the Country: Gaurav Gautam*
Haryana Minister of State for Sports, Gaurav Gautam, said that Haryana has one of the finest sports policies in the country and is among the most progressive states in the field of sports. Under the state’s sports policy, athletes are provided cash incentives ranging from Rs. 51,000 to Rs. 6 crore for achievements, from national-level competitions to Olympic medals, helping them become financially self-reliant.
Keeping the welfare of sportspersons in mind, the state government will organise a ceremony on February 9 at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurugram. During the event, Chief Minister, Nayab Singh Saini will honour medal winners of the 38th National Games held in Uttarakhand and will also formally inaugurate the CM Cup-2025.
The Sports Minister was addressing a press conference at Haryana Niwas here today.
Gaurav Gautam said that the ceremony will honour winners of 48 gold, 47 silver, and 58 bronze medals from the National Games. In addition, a total of 689 athletes and coaches who participated in the Games will also be felicitated. On this occasion, Savita Punia, who has made outstanding contributions to Indian hockey and was recently awarded the Padma Shri, will be given special recognition.
He further informed that since 2014, an amount of approximately Rs. 709 crore has been disbursed as cash awards and incentives to 16,970 players. During the year 2025–26, more than Rs. 109 crore has already been given to 662 players to support their welfare.
The Sports Minister emphasised that the state government is a true well-wisher of athletes. Haryana currently has 1,500 sports nurseries where over 37,000 players are undergoing training. Besides this, applications have also been invited to set up an additional 500 sports nurseries, aimed at nurturing sporting talent at the grassroots level.
He said that the Haryana Sports Department is working with a clear vision of the 2036 Olympics, with a target of winning 36 medals. Efforts are being made in this direction, and the upcoming state budget will allocate funds keeping this mission in focus.
He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the Union Budget has provided a historic 33 percent increase in allocation for sports. In Haryana, stadiums across the state are being upgraded at a cost of Rs. 114 crore, of which nearly 70 percent of the work has already been completed.
Principal Secretary, Sports Department, Vijay Singh Dahiya, and Additional Director, Sports Department, Sh. Ashwani Malik also remained present on this occasion.
