Live
- Bus Driver Arrested After Deadly Accident in Mumbai’s Kurla; 42 Injured
- Rs 36.07 crore tribal products sold through TRIFED in FY24: Govt
- PM Modi to lay foundation stone for Ken-Betwa river linking project on Dec 25: MP CM
- 70 farmers trained as drone pilots in Anantapur dist
- AP Pensions: 500 Ineligible People Receive Pensions for Every 10,000
- South Korea's ruling party chief voices support for President Yoon's impeachment
- Defeat in Tirhut bypolls doesn't signify discontent among teachers: Bihar Education Minister
- Over 1 lakh micro food processing enterprises get assistance under PMFME scheme: Minister
- Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins added to BBL 14 supplementary lists
- Flood risk in low-lying areas of Chennai as Chembarambakkam Lake’s water level rises
OU counsels Cherlapally prisoners on the right path
OU counsels Cherlapally prisoners on the right path. ‘Hate the crime not the criminals’ is the sentence which one sees when they enter the gates of the Cherlapalli Central Prison. It sounds simple but it reflects the efforts behind the vision that is held by the present Telangana DG of Prisons V K Singh.
Paradigm shift in Telangana prisons: Focus on Cherlapally jail
‘Hate the crime not the criminals’ is the sentence which one sees when they enter the gates of the Cherlapalli Central Prison. It sounds simple but it reflects the efforts behind the vision that is held by the present Telangana DG of Prisons V K Singh. His initiative includes not only infrastructural development but also to bring about changes in the psychological well being of prison staff as well as the inmates.
.jpg)
Under his direction the State Institute Correctional Administration with Varuna Reddy as the coordinator, has facilitated a series of programmes in this regard. One of his initiatives worth bringing to public notice is SUDHAAR- an ongoing programme designed exclusively for prison inmates focusing on the application of cognitive-behavioural, social and motivational strategies to bring about a positive change and reduction in the offending behaviour.
For this programme DG requested Prof C Beena, co-ordinator, Sahayam Counselling Centre, Osmania University (OU) to take the initative. Her experience in cognitive psychology and counselling, as a researcher and trainer, made her to plan a comprehensive programme and formally launch it on April 6 at the prison for 30 under trials who were recognised as habitual offenders.
A nine member team with experience in the field of cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, criminology and education was formed to undertake different activities. The team included Dr A Anupama, Dr G Shubhakar, Dr D Venkateshwar Rao, Mohammad Rafi, Cithara Kaushik, Mythili, G Swathi Kumari and Rajitha Gopinatham. 30 participants attended this 36 hours training programme which spanned across a month with a two-month follow up plan.
The course content included psychological strategies based on cognitive behavioural framework and behavioural assessments. The strategies concentrated on methods aiming at developing insight in to the offending behaviour, non offending pro-social behaviour, behaviour regulation and resetting their goals. The programme was carried out in workshop mode with features like group discussion, psychometric assessment, exercises, working in groups and so on.
It took two sessions to break the ice between participants and the resource persons, but once the rapport was established, there was free flow of information exchange, their expressions and their experiences. Towards the end it led to the behavioural contract by the participants to avoid undesirable behaviours while in the prison and also plans to reduce offending behaviour once they are released.
The participants shared their experiences on the last day of the session regarding the behavioural change that they have noticed in themselves. One of them shared their experience by saying “I feel confident that I can deal with anything now. Before, we felt like orphans, after the counselling started we feel as though we have someone who cares”.
One of them expressed that he understood what it is to cheat and now he would not do so or let anybody cheat him in life. Another noted a change in him and went on to say that in spite of any provocation he doesn’t get angry.
The resource persons are also involved in the follow up sessions. The team members have taken up mentoring session with the same drive. They shared their experience of being a part of this unique training programme. In spite of the initial challenges they felt that this was an interesting experience for each one of them.
Participants’ acceptance and enthusiasm towards the programme has made the resource persons to walk extra miles by being thoroughly involved, sensitive to the participants, willing to learn more and adapt to the needs of the programme. All the resource persons have observed significant change over the training period.
The change unfolded in the positive direction in the participants as the sessions progressed. This was the driving force to carry on the sessions as planned. The co-ordinator has indicated that a measurable change has been seen in their cognitive-behavioural and motivational aspects which were identified in the mentoring sessions as well.
The team is presently in the progress of planning the subsequent mentoring session in the prison and also at SICA. Hope that the programme reaches its expected goals with success. The author is part of Sahayam Psychological Counselling Centre at Osmania University
By Dr C Beena
