Telangana prisons secure six ISO certifications in a first for Indian prison system

DG of Prisons Soumya Mishra along with Secretary to Government, Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Department, Hari Chandana Dasari, Director of Employment and Training A. Kranthi Wesley, SICA Principal S. Srinivasa Reddy and Managing Director of HYM International Certifications Sivaiah Alapati.

Two correctional institutions in Telangana have secured six ISO certifications covering quality management, environmental protection, energy conservation and food safety, in what the Prisons Department described as a first-of-its-kind achievement in the Indian prison system.

Central Prison, Cherlapalli, received four certifications, while the State Institute of Correctional Administration (SICA) at Chanchalguda secured two. The certifications recognise improvements in prison administration, food preparation and distribution, environmental management and institutional procedures.

Central Prison, Cherlapalli, was awarded ISO 9001 for Quality Management, ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, ISO 50001 for Energy Management and ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management.

Among the measures introduced at Cherlapalli are greater use of solar energy, energy conservation, greenery development and efficient utilisation of resources. The prison has also strengthened food hygiene through improved storage and handling practices, covered food trays during storage and transportation, timely distribution and a steam-based cooking system for rice.

Administrative procedures have also been streamlined through systematic documentation, maintenance of registers and records, monitoring of institutional activities and adherence to prescribed procedures.

SICA, Chanchalguda, received ISO 9001 for Quality Management and ISO 22000 for Food Safety Management, recognising its standards in administration, correctional training and food safety.

The certificates were presented by DG of Prisons Soumya Mishra to Cherlapalli Central Prison Superintendent G. Pramod and SICA Principal S. Srinivasa Reddy. The programme was held during Quality Month and World Quality Week, observed from November 9 to 13.

Addressing the gathering, DG Soumya Mishra said the certifications reflect the department’s efforts to introduce internationally recognised standards in prison administration. She stressed the need for continuous monitoring, systematic documentation, hygienic practices and organised administration to sustain the standards.

Secretary to Government, Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Department, Hari Chandana Dasari, Director of Employment and Training A. Kranthi Wesley, and Managing Director of HYM International Certifications Sivaiah Alapati attended the programme, along with senior prison officials.