Women Prisoners in Odisha: A Case Study of Angul and Talcher Jails

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to understand the lives of women prisoners in Odisha. It focuses on Angul and Talcher jails and initiates conversations with women prisoners to understand the level of anxiety and depression faced by them. The objective of this research project is to evaluate the anxiety of freedom faced by women prisoners. It also documents life of the prisoners when they are in the jail and tries to study their outlook towards life and freedom. Stress, anxiety and depression were among the most frequently reported problems in the cases under review though in several cases prison life was more comfortable than everyday harassment for some women. Women in prison face many problems in their life during their jail-term and there is a growing level of anxiety towards dealing with life after imprisonment. While they spoke of the particularities of their own lives, during my conversation I found that their past, present and what they do in future life were of ample significance. In conclusion, it is noted that women prisoners appear to normalize their problem to fight depression