Amaravati, February 23: Vangalapudi Anitha, Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh, stated that the coalition government is taking a positive view on granting clemency to eligible prisoners. Speaking during the eighth day of the Assembly Budget Session, she introduced a bill proposing amendments to the state’s prisons and correctional services legislation. The minister emphasized that the government is committed to reformative justice and is implementing changes in line with central guidelines to strengthen rehabilitation measures. Efforts are being made to expand educational opportunities within prisons, enabling inmates to pursue studies while serving their sentences.
Highlighting the need for behavioral transformation, the minister explained that inmates will be categorized based on criminal history and conduct to ensure appropriate correctional strategies. Special Anganwadi centers are being established inside prisons to support children of women inmates. The government is also promoting open-air prisons aimed at encouraging psychological reform and social reintegration, alongside providing opportunities for prisoners to engage in agriculture and vocational activities. These initiatives reflect a broader policy shift toward structured rehabilitation and reintegration into society.