The Department of Jail Management, the District Police Office Siraha, the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC), and Mukti Nepal jointly monitored the Siraha Jail on November 24, 2025.
The joint monitoring team included Director General of the Department of Jail Management Lilaprasad Sharma, Director Chomendra Nyaupane, Section Officer Balakrishna Katuwal, SP Anantarama Sharma of the District Police Office Siraha, Chief of District Jail Subodh Kumar Mahato, INSEC Siraha representative Durga Pariyar, and Mukti Nepal Chairperson Devkumari Mahara.
Director General Lilaprasad Sharma said that there are 75 jails in Nepal. He stated that he came for monitoring because it is easier to identify and solve problems by observing them directly rather than relying on reports whether there are issues in the jail, whether sentence reductions are being granted, and whether the police are performing their duties properly. He added that during the Gen-Z movement, some inmates escaped from jails, creating problems themselves. He said, “Either you escape and stay hidden your whole life, or if caught, you face harsher punishment. By not escaping, you have shown honesty, and the department will certainly think positively about you.” He emphasized that no one can defeat the government, the state, or nature, and therefore everyone must follow the rules within the law created by the government. Stating that the jail buildings are old and other facilities need improvement, he urged the jail administration and inmate representatives to sit together, prepare a plan for jail reform, and submit it, assuring that the government would provide the necessary funds.
Director General Sharma said that the parole facility has not been discontinued. He explained that a committee meeting must be held for parole decisions, but due to the Gen-Z movement, some members of the committee had not been able to attend. Once applications from all 75 jails are collected, a meeting will be held soon. Regarding reproductive rights, he said that the Supreme Court’s order cannot be implemented exactly as it is; the government must enact a law and implement it, and necessary infrastructure must also be arranged to provide such facilities.
Director of the Department of Jail Management, Chomendra Nyaupane, said that not everyone in jail is guilty and that crimes occur when individuals fail to adapt to society’s norms. He stated that inmates often face mental health issues while staying in jail, and that counseling services are necessary to manage these challenges.
Chief of the District Jail, Subodh Kumar Mahato, said that monitoring and counseling service programs have been organized to address the mental health issues of the inmates and the problems present in the jail.
Regarding the counseling service, Mukti Nepal Chairperson Devkumari Mahara facilitated the session, while inmates raised concerns about problems in the jail such as accommodation, infrastructure, and other issues, and demanded the facilities provided by the Government of Nepal.