Jail inmates find licence to start life afresh

Milind Ballal / TNN / Apr 7, 2007, 01:34 IST

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Fifty four inmates of the Thane Central jail are determined to turn over a new leaf after their release by becoming self-reliant.

Jail inmates find licence to start life afresh

THANE: Fifty four inmates of the Thane Central jail are determined to turn over a new leaf after their release by becoming self-reliant. And they have found a means to do so: education.
The Yashwantrao Chavan Open University (YCOU) has given these inmates the opportunity to complete their education, which was cut short due to the crime they had committed.
Dr Rajan Welukar, vice-chancellor of YCOU, visited the jail on Friday and reviewed the courses being imparted to the students.
"We were happy to see their progress. They have been provided with curriculum books and are being taught by counsellors in each subject. Their exams are next month,"he said. The university is implementing the novel project without charging any fees.

The YCOU has undertaken similar initiative at jails in Nagpur, Paithan, Amravati, Akola and Kolhapur. Besides vocational courses in carpentry, plumbing, electrical and tailoring, the university also offered graduation courses in arts and commerce.
"Even those who have not cleared their SSC or HSC can appear for these exams, provided they pass the preparatory exams,"jail superintendent Suresh Chavan said.
Among those appearing for the exams slated for May, 30 are prisoners and 22 jail employees. They will appear for the FY BA exams. Two prisoners are preparing for FY BCom, too.

Apart from the arts and commerce streams, the university also teaches computers. A classroom has been specially created for the students.
An inmate sentenced to life term in a murder case is one of the students. "He will be released on May 1, and he will be armed with a certificate which will act as a licence to start life afresh,"stated Chavan.
"Nobody should be deprived of education. Hence, we also cater to jail inmates who were forced by circumstances to forsake education halfway through. The education will not only change their life after they come out of jail but will also give them the self-respect they had lost unfortunately,"said Dr Welukar.
He was impressed by the huge kitchen in the jail being run by the prisoners themselves. "That made me think why not start new courses like kitchen management. Prisoners coming out of jails can get jobs in any hotel,"he said.
The university will organise a seminar for all jail superintendents and spread word about the university's good work. "The IG of state prisons has been positive,"said the vice-chancellor.

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