Hyderabad, June 10: These skills can help them live a better life once out of prison.
Techies go to the prisons with a passion to make these inmates feel a part of society, a passion which often rubs off on the inmates and fills them with a determination to learn skills and start afresh after their jail term is over.
The Cherlapally prison in the city has a computer lab set up by some enthusiastic techies and a number of prisoners who have received computer training have now moved on to set up their own internet cafes, work in BPOs and printing companies.
“It was my desire to do something for prisoners who are pushed into crime due to poverty. This led me to volunteer to train inmates, six years back. Initially it took some convincing from us to make them see the importance of the training, but now the prisoners themselves are enthused about it,” says Ms Sita Prasoona, a manager with an IT giant.
The training is imparted to prisoners who are a minimum of ‘tenth pass’ and are not serving a life term. The list of inmates eligible for the training is prepared by the prison officials.
“Unlike earlier, when vocational training to inmates was given only in traditional trades, the IT training will give them a certain edge and enable them to earn their livelihood. It will be both productive and economically beneficial to them both inside and outside the prison,” said Avinash Chandra, another techie who has trained students and women groups.