Earlier inmates, including new and old, of all 20 to 30 wards would gather in the common compound during recreational hours. But now, each jail will have separate facilities, jail officials said.

“New inmates who come to jail for the first time, would meet inmates of other wards at the chakkar. They would keep in touch even after their release and return to old ways,” said Sunil Gupta, Law Officer at Tihar.

“Now, new inmates will be kept away from habitual offenders. Thus, they can spend their time in their ward itself,” Gupta added. Subsequently, there would not be fights among the inmates, officials said.

Jail authorities say they have made arrangements in each ward of jails for a stage, volleyball and badminton courts, recreation room with chess, ludo, carom, table tennis facilities and separate library in each ward. The compounds are operational in Jail number one while other sections will get their compounds in a few weeks, officials said

Jail authorities have also introduced a special food trolley to ensure inmates get their food hot every hour. “Many prisoners could not get hot food because of court hearings earlier. Now, they can have it from this trolley, and that too, fresh,” said BS Jarial, Jail Superintendent of Jail number one.

Newsline found inmates of Jail number one playing games, reading books and taking educational classes from experts of Delhi government in their chakkar.

The inmates who are illiterate are being taught to write their names and given basic education to aid themselves in their legal proceedings, officials said.

A teacher in the study room of the ward said, “We have enrolled around 3,000 prisoners in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, an educational programme of the state government.”

Nine Nigerian nationals lodged in the jail say they have learnt Hindi under the scheme.