Rajasthan Prisons Department Implements New Policy for Ramzan Food Distribution
In a significant policy shift, the Rajasthan prisons department has officially prohibited individuals and organizations from directly delivering iftar and sehri food to Muslim inmates observing Ramzan. The directive mandates that all supplies for fasting inmates must be purchased and distributed exclusively through authorized prison consumer stores.
Directive Follows Reports of Organizations Being Turned Away
The new order emerged after multiple Muslim organizations attempting to deliver iftar materials during the holy month were reportedly turned away at prison gates and instructed to remove their items. For years, social and religious groups have traditionally provided essential items like fruits, dates, and packaged food to inmates who are fasting.
According to the official order issued by prison headquarters on February 17, donors must now place their orders with the consumer store located inside each jail facility. The store will then procure the requested items, accept payment directly from the donor, and arrange for the supplies to be delivered to inmates through the established prison administration channels.
The order explicitly states that no outside food items will be accepted as "gifts" within jail premises under any circumstances.
Statewide Implementation Across All Correctional Facilities
This directive applies uniformly across Rajasthan to all types of correctional institutions, including:
- Central prisons
- District prisons
- Sub-jails
- Women's correctional homes
- Special central jails
- High-security prisons
- Open jails
- Juvenile homes
Rajasthan's prison system comprises eight central prisons, twenty-eight district prisons, and numerous sub-district prisons, all of which must adhere to this new regulation.
Official Justification: Security and Safety Concerns
Speaking to media representatives, Director General (Prisons) Ashok Rathore clarified that the move aligns with existing prison regulations. "There is nothing wrong with the order," Rathore stated. "Certain restrictions on outside food have always existed. Food from external sources cannot be fully trusted from a security and safety standpoint."
The Director General emphasized that donors can still facilitate meals for inmates by purchasing items from the designated prison stores, with the department ensuring proper distribution to those observing the fast.
Community Concerns About Practical Implementation
Community representatives have expressed significant concerns about the practical implications of this new system. Vice-president of Jamiet-Ul-Quresh, Illyas Qureshi, explained that organizations typically prepare comprehensive iftar packets containing dates, fresh fruits, snacks, and beverages.
"Such arrangements may not be possible through departmental stores," Qureshi noted. "The variety and nutritional value usually provided in community-organized iftar packets could be difficult to replicate through standardized prison procurement systems."
President of the Progressive Muslim Alliance, Adul Salam Johar, highlighted additional concerns regarding the specific dietary needs of fasting individuals. "Sehri and Iftar meals require particular, nutritionally adequate items suited for those fasting throughout the day," Johar explained. "There are legitimate questions about whether prison stores can consistently provide the appropriate quality and variety needed for proper observance of the fast."
The policy change represents a significant departure from longstanding community practices during Ramzan, raising questions about how traditional charitable activities will adapt to new institutional requirements while maintaining the spiritual and nutritional integrity of the fasting experience for incarcerated individuals.
