Viyyur Jail inmates talk to families via Whatsapp amid COVID-19 pandemic

As Kerala is struggling hard to combat coronavirus pandemic, a ban has been imposed on visits to Central Prison in Viyyur leaving inmates in stress. With most of the procedures at the prison going online, the Jail administration started facilitating inmates with Whatsapp Video call to communicate with their families and close ones.

Thrissur: With the rising concern of coronavirus pandemic across Kerala, Authorities at Central Prison in Viyyur have started the facility of Whatsapp Video call to assist jail inmates to talk to their close family members. As COVID-19 has started gripping the entire region, the state administration has imposed a ban on visitors to the jail leaving inmates in despair.

Unable to know the whereabouts of their families amid COVID-19, the prisoners were under stress and the jail administration came up with the thought to contain the spread of deadly infection.

"Since March, we have been taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As part of regulating visits at the prison owing to COVID-19 pandemic measures, we have now enabled video call facility as per the directions of DGP (Prisons) Rishiraj Singh. Few inmates called their close relatives and family members using the video call facility on Whatsapp," informed Nirmalanandhan, Viyyur Jail superintendent.

Nirmalanandhan said, "During the COVID-19 induced lockdown, most of the procedures at the prison were being carried out through online mode. The remand prisoners were produced in the court through video conferencing. Besides, the inmates can avail medical treatment and doctor’s consultation whenever necessary through the Government’s e- Sanjeevani portal."