Kolkata: The department of correctional administration and the South 24 Parganas district administration have taken up the initiative to arrange an accommodation at a govt-aided old-age home for Shila Kundu (80), a woman who has been released after serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence.
Kundu had been behind the bars at Alipore Women’s Correctional Home for abetment to suicide and torturing her daughter-in-law.She was released on March 16. Her son is also serving a 10-year sentence.
“At this age, I wanted a safe home and two meals a day to survive. Previously, I used to stay at a rented mud house near Ghutiari Sharif and sell vegetables. After spending more than eight years in prison, I am not in a condition to resume my work. I have lost my shelter as well,” said Kundu.
Manoj Kumar Roy, district probation-cum-after care officer, South 24 Parganas, said: “Kundu was shifted to ‘Amar Bari’, an old-age home at Digambarpur on April 24 where she would have no worries about food, treatment and a safe shelter. It is our primary duty to rehabilitate and reintegrate ex-convicts into the society and also to remove stigma.”
He added, “She can leave the old-age home after her son is released from the prison.”