Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Despite seeking a substantial budget every year, the jail department has repeatedly failed to fully utilise the funds allocated to it in the Budget.
Over the past four years, the department has not been able to spend the entire budget sanctioned by the state government. Even though the department demand higher allocations, a portion of the approved amount remains unspent each financial year.
The budget allocated covers salaries and allowances for employees and officers, office expenses, and the maintenance of jails and offices. Besides, it is used for prisoner remuneration for special services, maintenance of immovable assets such as buildings, vehicle repairs, and the purchase of medicines for jail hospitals.
Other expenditures include the procurement of food rations, clothing, bedding, and tents for prisoners, as well as their transportation to district courts, examinations, and training programs.
In the year 2024-25, the budgetary allocation of Rs 616.35 crore was made but the department has not been able to fully utilized the funds so far.
Approved budget Rs 1933.55 Cr, unutilised Rs 176.1 Cr
The Approved budget amount was Rs 423.58 crore in the financial year 2020-21. The jail department could only spend only Rs 393.92 crore. An amount of Rs 29.65 crore could not be spent in this financial year.
Similarly, in next year the approved budget amount was Rs 462. 39 lakh. The department had able to spent Rs 447.63 crore. The amount of Rs 14.75 remained unused. After this, the same situation prevailed in the year 2022-23.
This year the approved budget was Rs 491.91 crore, the department able to spent Rs 416.6 crore and Rs 75.84 crore remain unutilized. In the year 2023-24, the budget of Rs 555.67 crore was approved. Out of this, the department had able to spent the amount of Rs 499.92 crore, this year also Rs 55.77 crore. In the year 2024-25, the budget of Rs 616.35 crore approved. This time also this much amount has not been spent till now.
