The Hindu : Front Page : Now, inmates of Tiruchi Central Prison chart a new course

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 06, 2007
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Now, inmates of Tiruchi Central Prison chart a new course

R. Rajaram

Enrol themselves in various degree and diploma courses in universities

State Government has sanctioned Rs. 1.5 lakh towards educational expenses of prisoners
Seven lifers have been appointed as teachers

TIRUCHI: Making use of the distance education mode, 139 lifers and long-term prisoners lodged in the Tiruchi Central Prison have enrolled themselves in various undergraduate degree and diploma courses of the Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) and the University of Madras.

While 50 inmates have enrolled in undergraduate degree courses in Political Science, Social Work, Psychology, Public Administration, History, Commerce, English Literature and Economics of the TNOU, 88 have been admitted to diploma programmes in four-wheeler mechanism, fashion designing, garment-making and refrigeration / air-conditioning in the University of Madras. One inmate has been admitted to the MBA programme of the TNOU.

Course materials will be supplied to them by the universities and classes are expected to commence inside the jail campus shortly.

The State Government had sanctioned Rs. 1.5 lakh for the current year towards educational expenses of prisoners, prison authorities said.

The prisoners were motivated to pursue higher studies and their interest in the course was ascertained beforehand.The classes would be conducted from 7.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. and between 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m., barring Sundays and holidays. It is for the first time that a good number of inmates have been admitted to various degree and diploma courses, according to a senior prison official.

Seven lifers, all postgraduates, have been appointed as teachers in the jail school by the District Collector. They will be paid honorarium for taking classes for the inmates admitted to various degree and diploma courses, and for the illiterate and semi-literate inmates.

Classes for the illiterate and semi-literate inmates commenced on September 15 at various locations inside the sprawling prison campus.

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