Hyderabad: The Telangana state prisoner department is all set to welcome the cultural programme for the month. The prisoners have this week started practising for the programme to lighten spirits within the jail.
Inaugurating it, Cherlapally Central Prison superintendent M.R. Bhaskar said, “The cultural programme was started under the initiative of director general of prisons V.K. Singh, who aims to introduce rehabilitation efforts among ex-convicts within the jail. This is one among the many initiatives that is run by the department. The aim of the programme is to allow the prisoners an outlet for their creativity and energy. During the preparations for the programme, jails come to life with the buzz of events, enlivening spirits. Such efforts have consistently showed changes in the depressive moods and violent propensities that may result in the wake of being jailed.”
Various art forms such as drama and music will be the main aim of the programme. Currently, each prison is concluding the selection trials. Selected prisoners and groups will be motivated to showcase their talents in a three-day programme. To enliven such efforts, the Telangana state prisons will be rewarding prisoners with medals of honour and trophies as prizes.
D. Pradip, an ex-inmate who was removed from the prison after acquittal, said, “I wish someday to become a singer, but before coming to jail I had no opportunity to hone my skills. However, the cultural programme in the prison gave many a voice and brought to life desires of partaking in creative art forms that once was buried under the shackles of responsibility.”
