CLEARED SKHERSLUG: GALA BHET SCHEMEAurangabad: Emotions ran high on Tuesday in the Aurangabad central prison when 90 convicts met their families, especially their minor children, in person.The Aurangabad central prison authorities acted on a four-year-old circular under which select convicts can meet their family members, especially their spouses and minor children, in person. The scheme called ‘Gala Bhet’ (hug) allows the inmates to take their children to the canteen in the prison and purchase some sweets and chocolates for them.According to the scheme, the inmates who are well behaved and disciplined get a chance to meet their families. Aurangabad prison authorities had selected 90 such inmates, each convicted for a serious offence, for the meeting with family on Tuesday. Their families were informed about the meeting.On Tuesday morning, the convicts spent several minutes with their families even as prison staff kept an eye on the meeting. The convicts hugged, interacted with their family members and savoured Diwali faral. Some even exchanged gifts with each other, the inmates purchasing items made within the jail for the families.The first such interaction between prison inmates and their families was carried out in 2015 and a watch was kept on the inmates after the meeting. Prison authorities observed a drastic change in the overall behaviour of some hardened criminals.Aurangabad prison superintendent Bapurao More said, “These convicts suddenly start behaving in a very obedient manner. They have started remaining in discipline and all the results are before us.”DIG prisons Yogesh Desai said that the scheme sent out a message that those who behave properly and contribute to the prison’s overall discipline will bag a chance to meet their families in person.Another senior prison officer said that since the scheme was launched, the friction between such inmates and the jail staff has reduced. The inmates are also more cooperative, the officer said.The ‘Gala Bhet’ interaction is drastically different from the usual ‘mulakat’ allowed to prisoners, when they speak to family members through glass partitions. Prison staff pointed out that during the ‘mulakat’, the family members cannot even see the inmate clearly as there are a couple of glasses that separate the convict and the visitor.“These windows are at an approximate height of four feet and more, making it difficult for the children to even see their jailed kin. Letting the inmates interact in person with their family members has allowed them to express their feelings and emotions freely,” said a prison staff.

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