A conscious policy for improvement of prisons and human resource is required for safe and secure custody of prisoners. This was stated by Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy. The Minister was speaking at a two-day National Conference on Criminal Activities and Radicalization in Jails in New Delhi today. He said, the immediate challenges are overcrowding in prisons, a very high percentage of under-trial prisoners, poor quality of prison infrastructure, criminal activities in jail and safety of women prisoners and their children. The Minister said, the government has launched a scheme for modernization of prisons at a cost of one thousand 800 crore rupees. The aim is to reduce overcrowding and improve conditions in the prisons.<br />'' <br />''Mr Reddy said, 199 new jails and 1,572 additional barracks will be built. He said, the Centre has taken various measures for reforming and assisting States in prison administration. The prison system should endeavor to reform offenders by giving them appropriate correctional treatment.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports that the conference is being organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development. It provides a platform for prison personnel of all ranks at the national level to share their views on various operational as well as administrative issues.</span><br />