The Green Prison concept (MM, June 1st) is only one of the significant changes sweeping across the State’s prisons. Community colleges in prisons to educate the inmates and facilitate further studies is the latest initiative! Apart from even a remand prisoner who is in the campus for at least 15 days, those who cannot read and write can also pick up such skills. Those who stay longer are guided to take their 8th, 10th or 12th standard exams, or even the BA, MBA or MCA exams. In the vocational stream, about 20 core courses are provided, including four-wheeler mechanism, catering technology, DTP, etc. But a welcome precursor to all these is a basic course in communication, life-coping skills, self-development, and computing!

For women prisoners, courses in nursing care and beautician training are offered. The prison authorities link up with the ITIs and zero in on short- and long-term courses with good employment potential. Currently, there are mobile labs for experiential work, but prison authorities are liaising with NGOs to help set up permanent labs for vocational streams on campus.

Tie-ups for campus placements are on the cards but the primary focus is on courses that generate self-employment. TV mechanics, plumbers and electricians can be trained as service providers on call. And when a prisoner comes out with a skill, reintegration becomes easier.

Correctional services existed earlier, but were not guided or facilitated in a sustained and structured manner to generate future employment. In December 2010, a tie-up was initiated with community colleges outside, with the Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education (ICRDCE) as consultant, and formalised frameworks and a mandatory number of study hours put in place. Specialised courses, like a diploma or degree in textile engineering, have been provided in the Coimbatore prison campus to cater to job opportunities in the flourishing textile industry in the region. In Vellore, leather technology courses are offered and a paper factory has been set up in the Palayamkottai prison by Tamil Nadu Paper Limited (TNPL). In Madurai, a hotelier shares catering tips with inmates. Different programmes are tailored for different job opportunities in each area.

The Prisons Department has been receiving donations from several quarters – some sponsoring prisoners’ education and others willing to help them become self-employed – by way of direct cheques to the Mahatma Gandhi Community Colleges in State prisons. In the future, even customised requests from corporates can be met, feel officials. The student-prisoners will be trained professionally, and companies can assess their skills and choose whom they want, on merit.