Justice Tashi inaugurates dental cum awareness camp at Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal

Visits ‘Muskan’ Home for mentally challenged persons, Channi Rama

JAMMU, JANUARY 03: Justice Tashi Rabstan, Judge, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, today inaugurated a dental awareness cum hygiene camp organized for the inmates of Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal here.

The camp was organized by Indira Gandhi Government Dental College in collaboration with J&K Legal Services Authority and Prison Department, J&K.

Justice Tashi, accompanied by Amit Kumar Gupta, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, was warmly received by Deepak Kumar, Director General Prisons, Sanjay Parihar, District & Sessions Judge and Chairman DLSA Jammu, Virendar Bhat, Superintendent, Central Jail Kotbhalwal Jammu, Rakesh Gupta, Principal, Indira Gandhi, Government Dental College, Smriti Sharma, Secretary, DLSA Jammu, Dr. Poli Thapa, Senior Medical Officer, Central Jail Kot Bhalwal Jammu and Advocate Anil Sharma, Chief LADC, Jammu.

A ceremonial guard of honor was also accorded to Justice Tashi.

While addressing after inaugurating the two day camp, Justice Tashi said that dental hygiene is equally important for every person but due to lack of awareness the people normally ignore these issues. He said this awareness cum hygiene camp has been specially designed to address the dental problems being faced by the jail inmates.

Referring to his earlier visits to various jails in the UT of J&K, Justice Tashi said that a number of jail inmates had raised the demand for referring them to dental hospital for dental checkup. So, the J&K Legal Services Authority after holding a detailed meeting with Principal Indira Gandhi, Government Dental College and Director General, Prisons formulated a calendar spreading over 2 months for organising dental awareness cum hygiene camps in two phases in all the jails of Jammu and Kashmir, he added. The first phase would cover jails located in Jammu province while the second phase will be covering all the jails of Kashmir province.

Principal Indira Gandhi, Government Dental College, informed the Executive Chairman that various teams comprising 22 dental surgeons and 4 technicians have been deputed for two days at Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu. This shall not only spread the awareness about the dental hygiene, but shall also conduct dental check-up and provide treatment during the camp. He further informed that besides using the dental equipment available in various jails, portable dental chairs alongwith medicines and other tools shall be taken to each and every jail by the team constituted for the purpose.

On the occasion, various dental surgeons also addressed the gathering and educated them about various precautions required for maintaining dental health.

Later, Justice Tashi inspected proceedings of NIA court Jammu being conducted virtually involving Jail inmates.

The Director General Prisons, while thanking the Executive Chairman, acknowledged the efforts of Legal Services Institutions in organizing such programmes for jail inmates and addressing their problems. He also requested the Executive Chairman to take up the issue of shortage of medical staff in various jails with the concerned Authorities.

Subsequently, Justice Tashi inspected the office of J&K Legal Services Authority at JDA Complex, Jammu and interacted with the staff posted there.

Justice Tashi urged upon all to work with dedication to ensure that the flag of Legal Services Authority flatters high in the sky.

Later in the afternoon, Justice Tashi visited ‘Muskan’, a Home for Mentally Challenged Persons at Channi Rama, Jammu, to oversee improvements made in the living conditions of the inmates.

Justice Tashi Rabstan met all the inmates and spent about an hour with them.

On behalf of District Administration, Anusuya Jamwal, ADC Jammu was present, who informed Justice Tashi that the construction work of one additional room is nearing completion and other necessary repairs shall be completed before the close of this financial year.

The Administrator of the Home informed Justice Tashi that the girls of the Home recently participated in VYOM 2023 and also got prize in a cultural event.