The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Making the most of prison life

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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Making the most of prison life

Special Correspondent

Central jail inmates take computer literacy examination

Positive approach: Inmates of the Central Prison take an examination in computer literacy.

Thiruvananthapuram: Prison life can be boring and stressful. But a section of convicts at the Central Prison here have decided to make the most of the time spent behind bars to keep pace with the technology-driven world outside.

As many as 28 convicts at the jail here took the first steps towards acquiring basic skills in information technology, when they appeared for an examination in computer literacy organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and the P.N. Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra on Monday.

The candidates were selected from the 40 students who had completed 40 hours of training for the Computer Literacy Programme (CLP) at the knowledge centre jointly established by IGNOU and the Confederation of NGOs in Rural India (CNRI) on the jail premises last November.

The hour-long examination was held in three batches. The qualification of candidates ranged from eighth-standard to post graduation.

Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan visited the jail to compliment the candidates. He was accompanied by Director General of Police (Jail) K.P. Somarajan, Inspector General G.C. Baburaj and other jail officials.

The P.N. Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra foots the fees and faculty expenses for the course. Kendra vice-chairman N. Balagopal said the candidates clearing the examination would be issued a certificate by IGNOU. “The first batch of students from the Central Jail was imparted training by a fellow convict who holds a Master of Computer Application and Post-graduate Diploma in Computer Application degrees. The students attended classes from 3.30 to 5.30 p.m. every day. Three computers were installed in the jail for the purpose. We hired 10 computers for the examination,” he said. Those clearing the CLP examination are eligible for the CIC (Certificate in Computing) and the BPP (Bachelors Preparatory Programme) courses that will equip them for BCA and MCA degrees.

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