Home Minister Lekhak Unveils Vision to Turn Prisons into Industrial Villages

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has pledged a transformative shift in Nepal’s prison system, announcing plans to convert prisons into open correctional homes and fully functional industrial villages. The initiative aims to promote rehabilitation through productivity and skill development for inmates.

While inaugurating the newly constructed facilities of the Morang Prison Office in Biratnagar, Minister Lekhak emphasized that the government’s long-term goal is not just incarceration, but empowerment of inmates. “We want our prisons to become centers of learning, industry, and productivity where inmates can meaningfully engage their time and earn livelihoods,” he said.

He underscored the government’s commitment to upholding the human rights of prisoners, despite legal obligations to detain those convicted of crimes. “In a democratic society, every individual’s rights must be respected — including those behind bars,” the minister noted, adding that efforts are underway to address overcrowding and insufficient infrastructure across Nepal’s prison system.

Minister of Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province, Rewati Raman Bhandari, echoed this sentiment, expressing hope that the new infrastructure will not only improve living conditions but also provide meaningful engagement for inmates. “Human rights and productive rehabilitation can go hand in hand,” Bhandari said.

Chief District Officer of Morang, Indradev Yadav, assured continued efforts to enhance the prison environment and uphold humane treatment of all inmates. Other dignitaries at the event—including Member of Parliament Amanlal Modi, Provincial Assembly Member Bhim Parajuli, Federal Urban Development Office Chief Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Prisons Department Director General Narayan Bhattarai—voiced strong support for employment opportunities and better rights protection for prisoners.

The newly inaugurated prison facility, built at the site of the former District Jail in Hathkhola, Biratnagar, was constructed at a cost of Rs 361.285 million. The complex is designed to house 218 male and 99 female inmates, with modern amenities aimed at facilitating rehabilitation programs.

The move reflects a broader push by the government to redefine corrections from mere punishment to social reintegration—through skill-building, industrial training, and dignified labor.