Gujarat government has said that it is focusing on education, spirituality and religion to reform the prisoners lodged in various jails across the state.

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More than 600 inmates are pursing various courses run by different universities, the state assembly was informed on Thursday.

Minister of state for jails, Praful Patel provided this information in response to a question by BJP MLA from Palanpur, Govind Prajapati, as to what steps the government was taking to reform prisoners.

Patel said in a written reply that 477 prisoners were studying in centres of Indira Gandhi National Open University and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University in various jails.

"A computer language lab, equipped with 24 computers, has been set up with the co-operation of Ambedkar University in Ahmedabad central jail to train the prisoners," he added.

The minister further said that 86 graduate prisoners were pursuing PG diploma in ethical education and spirituality from Annamalai University and Brahmakumaris.

He informed that libraries have been set up in all jails, and are equipped with 44,244 religious and spiritual books and 4,160 magazines. He said that 3,931 illiterate prisoners were made literate in 2010.

"Various religious and spiritual programmes and discourses by organizations such as Art of Living, Brahmakumaris, BAPS, Iscon, Gayatri Chetan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission, among others, are being organised for moral transformation of prisoners through spiritual upliftment and by helping them develop positive approach," the minister said.

Facilities have also been provided for yoga and pranayam in jails, he added.