The Madhya Pradesh government will release 32 prisoners, including nine from tribal backgrounds, for good conduct on November 15, coinciding with Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas or Tribal Pride Day, as announced by officials on Friday. This initiative marks the first instance in India where prisoners are released based on their good behavior while incarcerated. November 15 also commemorates the birth anniversary of tribal figure Birsa Munda, celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Dr. Deepmala Rawat, a specialist in the Governor’s tribal cell, stated that this release is an initiative from Governor Mangubhai C Patel, who is also of tribal descent.
Following a meeting with prison department officials, a proposal was sent to the state cabinet for the remission of well-behaved prisoners, which received approval. Rawat mentioned that this release will add Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to the list of occasions, alongside Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and Ambedkar Jayanti, during which prisoners with good conduct are released in Madhya Pradesh. She noted that the upcoming release will also benefit convicts who complete their remission after Gandhi Jayanti, as they will no longer have to wait until Republic Day for their release.
Additional Inspector General of Police (Prisons) Sanjay Pandey clarified that no inmates convicted of rape or under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act will be released, nor will those serving sentences for two separate murder convictions. He specified that remissions are applicable only to convicts who have served over 14 years of a life sentence and exhibited good behavior, and these convicts are currently housed in 11 central jails across the state. According to the 2011 census, Madhya Pradesh has over 1.53 crore tribal individuals, constituting 21.08 percent of its total population exceeding 7.26 crore, making it the state with the largest tribal population in India.
The state has implemented various measures for tribal welfare, including the withdrawal of criminal cases related to land encroachments against them, officials noted.