No bar for jailbirds to land lucrative jobs

Hyderabad: Inspired by the first generation reforms, the Telangana State Prisons Department has embarked on new reforms in all the jails across the State. The new reforms, which the department officials term them as the second generation reforms, would completely transform prisoners, jails and also provide direct services to the people.

Placement agency, security-free loans, vocational courses and computer education are among a few which are part of the second generation reforms which would change the life of the jailbirds after their release.

The authorities of the prison department are in talks with multinational companies and industries to place the inmates after completing their term in the jails. Accordingly, the department has started with the placement and grievance registers. The officials say that inmates who are in need of a job after their term have to register with the placement agency.

For the prisoners who require financial assistance, the department is trying to rope in banks which could give security-free loans. Already staff in the prison department is availing interest-free loans and the department is mulling to give interest free loans to the prisoners too.

“We are trying to tie up loose ends of first generation reforms. If we achieve them, we will be writing a history,” said Vinoy Kumar Singh, Director-General, Prisons, Telangana State, who refuses to divulge details of the second generation reforms.

In an effort to make the jailbirds digitally literate and job ready, the department has roped in Tata Consultancy Services to train them in basic computer skills. For this purpose over 200 computers are provided for training. After completion of their training and jail term, the inmates would be given placement assistance for computer operator, data entry persons and other computer-related jobs.

The department is mulling to add two more petrol bunks to the already existing petrol bunks at Chanchalguda and Cherlapallyi jails which are run by the prisoners. That apart, the products such as soaps, towels, bed-sheets, carpets, bakery items, embroidery sarees and table spreads, which are made by the inmates are being sold under the brand name ‘My Nation’ from an outlet at a reasonable price. While the department has announced that it would start nature cure and spa services. A senior official is hopeful that spa services would be opened at half the market price by the end of November or in the first week of December.

Currently, the prison department is generating Rs 4 crore annually by selling its products and services. Now it wants to increase the production and revenue by Rs 20 crore from the next year. According to officials, the department has planted over one lakh teakwood saplings as part of the Haritha Haraam. The officials are of the view that in next 15 years, the department may generate revenue of Rs 2,000 crore from the teak plantation.“The department is facing financial crunch and we want to become self-sufficient in coming years,” says Vinoy Kumar Singh.

e-Mulaqat soon

As visitors wait hours together to meet their relatives in jails, the department has planned to launch e-Mulaqat. At present, the visitors are given tokens on a first- come- first- served basis. The kin never know when their turn would come to meet their dear ones. To avoid this inconvenience, visitors will be allowed to book a slot online and drop in at the jail at the allotted time to meet their family member.

Further, the department has come up with the visitor’s lounge equipped with air-conditioners and a canteen. Earlier, the visitors had to sit outside the jail. “People sit on the ground and it is violating their dignity. And you don’t know when their turn will come to meet the relatives. So we have started creating visitor’s lounge everywhere and the first in Chanchalguda jail, which undoubtedly is the best visitor’s lounge in the country,” says Vinoy Kumar Singh, Director-General, Prisons.

By:Chitra Saikumar