With the winds of reforms blowing through the cells, it was not difficult for the inmates to pursue their desire to study further.
NAGPUR: The confines of a prison do not have the capability to stop its inmates from flying high and achieving a goal. That is precisely what has happened to the prisoners in the Nagpur Central Jail, who will be appearing for the post-graduate examination at the end of the winter season.
With the winds of reforms blowing through the cells, it was not difficult for the inmates to pursue their desire to study further.
Taking these creative reforms to the next level, prison authorities convinced the authorities of the Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Nagpur University to set up an examination centre within the jail for the 30-odd inmates and jail staff wanting to finish graduation and post-graduation as irregulars.
The jail has converted a vacant hall into an examination and a study center, which will be inaugurated soon. With this, the Nagpur jail becomes the first such state prison to get such a facility. The central prison in Hyderabad already has such a facility.
The move was initiated last year by the then DIG (Prisons) Dr BK Upadhyay, who is now dispelling his duties as Additional Commissioner of Police (crime), Nagpur.
“The post-graduation classes for the prisoners will commence in a week after this study centre gets inaugurated,” said Bal Padwad, coordinator for the study and examination centres.
Dr Padwad was the first to start the library movement in the prison and it got the inmates hooked. Even hardcore criminals were seen with a book in their hands at times. “This eases their mental pressures and acts as a balm,” Padwad said.
Senior jailer Sameer Ade agrees. “We are finding a sea change in the inmates’ behaviour while they are studying. They may have committed a crime, but education and the process of teaching in the premises brings about a silent transformation in them. More prisoners want to finish their graduation, read books and spend time in learning,” he said.
These sentiments were also echoed by an inmate Sunil Meshram, who is serving a term for rape. “This opens up new avenues for us. I wanted to complete my post-graduation, but there were hassles earlier. The exam centre in the jail is a big boost to me personally,” he said.
Sunil completed his graduation last year with 61 per cent aggregate marks.
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