In only two years, Vinoy Kumar Singh, Director-General of Telangana State Prisons Department and Correctional Services has converted nearly 70 thousand prisoners into literates, thanks to his unique prisoners’ welfare and training initiatives. He says the best way to understand prisoners is to put yourself in their shoes. “My objective is to ensure that these prisoners get jobs after release and that they should not commit crime and come back again,” he says.
The inmates are asked about their interested areas of work, then they are trained by experts. “We roped in experts (doctors) in Ayurveda from Kerala (for our Ayurvedic village at Chenchalguda) and they trained prisoners in Panchakarma, physiotherapy, naturopathy, massage, etc. Similarly, we provide training in furniture, handlooms, manufacturing, etc. and allocate work,” Vinoy says.
Inmates cutting and shaping the iron.
While some prisoners are making furniture, taught to them by professionals, the delivery of these furniture to schools, colleges, courts, police departments, etc., is being handled by the Jail Superintendent. Hence everyone is involved.
When asked about the prisoners, he says, “They are the happiest lot. They are occupied while serving their term and at the same time acquire skills for better employment opportunities after their release.”
Vinoy is also planning to set up other initiatives like extending loans for the prisoners’ children’s education and marriages. And he is trying to build more job opportunities in the form of 100 petrol pumps and sale outlets for napkins, towels, carpets, soaps, dairy products and more.
Upcoming Initiatives
- Extending loans (interest free) to prisoners for their children’s education and marriages
- Developing an Ayurvedic village in all the districts to promote preventive medicine
- To start 100 petrol bunks wherein all the released prisoners will get employment.
- Set up outlets, which sell napkin, towels, bed sheets, carpets, readymade garments, hand wash, furniture, soaps, dairy products, etc.
