Telangana Prisons Department Wins SKOCH Award–2026 for De-addiction Initiative
The initiative places emphasis not merely on treatment during incarceration but also on behavioural change, rehabilitation and continuity of care after release
Hyderabad: The Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services Department has been honoured with the prestigious SKOCH Award–2026 for its innovative initiative of “Establishing NIVRUTTI De-Addiction Centres in Telangana Prisons.”
The award was conferred at the 109th SKOCH Summit – India Economic Forum, held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, recognising the department’s innovative and rehabilitation-oriented approach towards addressing substance dependence among prisoners.
The award was received by Dr. Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, from Rohan Kochhar, Founder, SKOCH Law Offices, and Sameer Kochhar, Chairman, SKOCH Group.
The NIVRUTTI De-Addiction initiative is aligned with the Government of Telangana’s vision of creating a Drug-Free Telangana and is implemented with support under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
As part of the initiative, 4,200 inmates were screened for substance-use concerns, 2,126 inmates underwent WHO-ASSIST screening and received counselling and treatment support, and 300 released prisoners were followed up after release.
The initiative places emphasis not merely on treatment during incarceration but also on behavioural change, rehabilitation and continuity of care after release. The objective is to help prisoners overcome addiction, rebuild their lives and return to society as responsible and productive citizens.
The effectiveness of the NIVRUTTI programme has also been assessed through an impact study conducted by APCA, Vellore. The findings of the study were presented at the International Research in Corrections Conference (IRCC)–2026, held in Auckland, New Zealand, providing an international platform to showcase Telangana’s innovative correctional and rehabilitation approach.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Soumya Mishra stated that the SKOCH Award is a recognition of the dedicated efforts of the officers and staff of the Telangana Prisons Department towards strengthening correction, rehabilitation and social reintegration.