Representational image NEW DELHI: As many as 273 prisoners, of which 107 were in Maharashtra alone, have benefited from the Union home ministry’s ‘support to poor prisoners’ scheme meant to provide financial aid to undertrial prisoners who are unable to secure bail due to financial constraints and convicts who remain in jail due to non-payment of court-imposed fine, the ministry told LS on Tuesday.Sharing details of prisoners who have benefited from the scheme, junior home minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said over Rs 71 lakh of Central funds were utilised across 16 states and Union territories to provide financial aid to eligible jail inmates. Maharashtra utilised the maximum funds worth Rs 18.7 lakh to benefit 107 prisoners, while Madhya Pradesh used Rs 9.9 lakh to provide relief to 38 prisoners. Over Rs 9 lakh was utilised by Tripura for seven eligible prisoners and Rs 7.7 lakh by Uttarakhand for 37 jail inmates. Assam too ensured the release of 28 prisoners with an aid of Rs 6.8 lakh under the scheme. The ‘support to poor prisoners’ scheme was launched by the ministry of home affairs in 2023 and its guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) revised and shared with all states and Union territories on Dec 2, 2025. About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’India-US Trade Deal Removes Competitive Disadvantage’: Former Indian Envoy To WashingtonIndia-US Trade Deal: Trump Says India Won’t Buy Russian Oil; Rahul Gandhi Accuses PM of Selling Out’Symbol Of Negativity’: Goyal Rains Fire On Rahul Gandhi After US-India Trade Deal, Parl RuckusIndia-US Trade Deal: Moscow Contradicts Trump’s Claim On New Delhi ‘Stopping’ Russian Oil Imports’Called Me Yaar, Threw Papers’: TDP MP Tenneti Slams Eight Suspended Lok Sabha MPs’Dairy, Agriculture Protected’: Piyush Goyal Outlines ‘Historic’ US-India Trade Deal, Lauds PM ModiBudget 2026: Defence Expert Flags Committed Liabilities, Calls For Battlefield TransparencyPak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Admits Terror Rooted In Corruption, Vindicates India In ParliamentGold, Silver Under Pressure After Peaks: Should You Invest And Hold Precious Metals Or Sell Off?India Moves To Secure Chicken’s Neck As Underground Rail Project Targets Strategic Vulnerabilities123PhotostoriesHow to make dhaba-style dal makhani at homeThere are only 6 countries whose names begin with the letter ‘U’Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi’s love story: From a ‘fling’ to three decades of togethernessA look into Yuvika Chaudhary and Prince Narula’s parenthood journeyFrom prehistoric sharks to unusual flowers: What’s inside the world’s largest cave6 common mistakes people make while cooking cauliflower6 luxury electric cars that blend sustainability with opulence‘Love Island’, ‘Love Is Blind’, and more: Reality TV couples who are still together in 2026Diljit Dosanjh makes Indian-style Masala Bread Omelette and we are absolutely loving it’Vadh 2’, ‘Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain’, ‘Devdas’ re-release: What to watch in cinemas this week123Hot PicksBudget 2026Gold Silver PricesCigarette Prices HikeIndia US TradeIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingSuper Bowl HalftimeMLB Trade RumorsJarrell MillerTom BradyTampa Bay LightningNHL Trade RumorsDarnell NurseRyan ClarkSam BennettGold Riyadh Players Ranking
NEW DELHI: As many as 273 prisoners, of which 107 were in Maharashtra alone, have benefited from the Union home ministry’s ‘support to poor prisoners’ scheme meant to provide financial aid to undertrial prisoners who are unable to secure bail due to financial constraints and convicts who remain in jail due to non-payment of court-imposed fine, the ministry told LS on Tuesday.Sharing details of prisoners who have benefited from the scheme, junior home minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar said over Rs 71 lakh of Central funds were utilised across 16 states and Union territories to provide financial aid to eligible jail inmates. Maharashtra utilised the maximum funds worth Rs 18.7 lakh to benefit 107 prisoners, while Madhya Pradesh used Rs 9.9 lakh to provide relief to 38 prisoners. Over Rs 9 lakh was utilised by Tripura for seven eligible prisoners and Rs 7.7 lakh by Uttarakhand for 37 jail inmates. Assam too ensured the release of 28 prisoners with an aid of Rs 6.8 lakh under the scheme. The ‘support to poor prisoners’ scheme was launched by the ministry of home affairs in 2023 and its guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) revised and shared with all states and Union territories on Dec 2, 2025.
