in the State is 14483, whereas currently 18343 prisoners are lodged. The Statement informs that construction work of 78 prisoner barracks is Page 8 of 17being undertaken to increase the capacity to 4450. 26 works would be completed by December, 2024; 40 works by June 2025, and the remaining works by December, 2025. It is stated that for ensuring that there is no overcrowding in jails for the next 10 years, action will be taken on a proposal of ₹ 22.8 crores for construction of 19 additional prisoner barracks, which would further boost the capacity by 1900. Provision thereof would be made in the Budget of the next Financial Year and the work would be completed by December, 2026. 18. With regard to the welfare of women prisoners and children in the prison, the Note sets out that the State’s position is that overcrowding would be solved by completion of the already-sanctioned barracks as also barracks to be sanctioned in the coming Financial Year. It is said that free sanitary pads are