Visakhapatnam: Inmates of Vizag central prison will soon have e-books in their hands, thanks to a digital library whihc will be set up in the jail premises. This is the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh. The purpose of the digital library is to inculcate the habit of reading among inmates and the digital library has computers loaded with texts and audio-visual material on self-development and motivational topics.
Sources said that Araku MP Kothapalli Geeta has sanctioned Rs 4.5 lakh from her MPLADS funds to develop the digital library in the premises. Central prison superintendent S. Rahul said that there are over 1,200 inmates including 450 convicts and remand prisoners. The prison has a regular library with over 9,000 books apart from this. The library is aimed at bringing about a positive outlook towards life and society among the prisoners, he added.
The process of uploading the books which include self-development, motivation, autobiographies, biographies, religious and spiritual will start soon. If all goes as planned, the digital library will be a reality in a month, Mr Rahul added. Andhra Pradesh has four central prisons — Kadapa, Nellore, Rajahmundry and Vizag and an open-air prison in Anantapur.
Sources said that reading would help the prisoners as options for recreation and relaxation are limited. A software, comprising details like names of all books, authors and its brief summary, will be developed as part of the project. Prisoners can walk straight into the library and choose their favourite e-book with the help of the software, they added.
