Inmates of Madurai Central Prison are all set for a new lease of life as Rudset Institute, an organisation based in Dharmasthala, Karnataka, is conducting a month-long training programme in two-wheeler mechanism.
It is aimed at providing the convicts a livelihood option upon release. Further, the institute would also be handholding them after they complete the course by helping them set up their own units. R. Shankar Narayan, Assistant General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), who took part in the inaugural event, told The Hindu on Thursday that this was a rare opportunity for the prisoners. The NABARD was one of the organisations that support RUDSET Institute.
Further, on completion of the training programme, the prison authorities are contemplating on setting up a service station near the prison to utilise the prisoner’s expertise even during their incarcerated period. This would provide an opportunity for income generation by the prisoners to help their family. A total of 35 convicts below the age of 45 years have been selected for the training.
First time
K. Bharathi, Director of RUDSET Institute, said that this was the first time the institute was taking such a programme in the Madurai Central Prison. The course, which began on Tuesday (November 27), would be over on December 26.
S.M. Desai, Executive Director of RUDSET Institute, who inaugurated the programme, said that rehabilitation of the released prisoners was a critical need of the hour.
S.P. Anand, the Prison Superintendent, said that the authorities were keen to ensure that jail inmates have a stable future upon completion of their sentences and did not lapse back into a life of crime.
