As part of the year-long celebration to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, over 900 prisoners have been released from jails across Indian in the first phase of the Centre’s amnesty scheme for grant of special remission to specific categories of prisoners.
The prisoners are decided to be released in three phases in the second and third phase prisoners will be released on April 6, 2019, and October 2, 2019 respectively.
The decision was taken on July 18 this year by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Women and transgender convicts aged 55 years and above and have completed 50 percent of their actual sentence period, are eligible for special remission and male convicts of 60 years or more, who have served half of their sentence, were eligible for the amnesty scheme announced by the central government.
Under the remission scheme physically-challenged convicts with 70 per cent disability, terminally-ill convicts, prisoners who have completed two-thirds of their actual sentence period are also eligible.
Government advised the states and Union Territories to hold week-long functions in all prison premises based on the teachings of the Mahatma Gandhi before the dates specified for release of prisoners.
The prisoners will garland the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, at the time of their release.
