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Crusading for a cause
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It was during his stint as IG, Prisons that V.Vaikunth came in touch with the murky world of prisoners. Post retirement, the cop's desire to help the needy has translated into many projects to rehabilitate prisoners. SANGEETH KURIAN writes...
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WHAT STRIKES you most about V. Vaikunth, the former Director General of Police is his utmost candour in words and deeds. The same trait he displayed while describing the violence at Kodiyankulam (a dalit village where the police had allegedly gone on a rampage in 1995) as a `totally inhuman act' or the same intuitive spirit he demonstrated while transforming a criminal into a doctorate holder, during his tenure as the top cop of Tamil Nadu.
Now in his post-retirement period, Vaikunth is once again taking a paternal interest in his fellow human beings, mincing no words and calling a spade a spade. But, this time, through his various non-governmental organisations. Starting from prisoner's rehabilitation to computer education for orphans and from vocational training for physically challenged to the adoption of a village, his ventures are a one-man crusade.
It was during his stint as IG prisons that Vaikunth came in touch with the murky world of prisoners and their poignant stories. He learned that like Joseph Paulraj, a graduate in mathematics, most of the prisoners became criminals by chance. And Vaikunth's experience in rehabilitating Paulraj, first by helping him pursue his postgraduate and doctoral studies and later on in getting a job as a lecturer, provided him the motivation for starting a project for the prisoners. "There is a lot of stigma attached to prisoners in our society. Once out of their cells they are considered as social outcasts. This often results in recidivism. Rehabilitating Paulraj was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. And I wanted to extend this to other prisoners as well, says Vaikunth.
45-year-old Murugan (name changed) killed his wife's paramour after finding her in a compromising position with him. The court sentenced him for lifetime imprisonment but was granted remission by the prison authorities for his good conduct. Coming out Murugan found it difficult to earn a living, as no one seemed ready to employ a jailbird. Hope came in the form of Vaikunth who selected him for his rehabilitation programme. "Today I know my future is in safe hands," says a visibly delighted Murugan.
Under the rehabilitation programme ex-convicts are trained in the craft of shoe making through a three months certificate programme at the Indian Institute of Leather Products, Ambattur. "The idea is to make them self-dependent and help them stand on their legs without reverting to crimes. The Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) has also promised to provide them jobs at the completion of the course," says Vaikunth who takes care of their training, accommodation, food and other miscellaneous expenses from his personal pocket.
Vaikunth's initiation into community service was triggered during a recruitment drive he undertook for constables and sub-inspectors in 1991, as the Chairman of the Uniformed Services Recruitment Board. " I was shocked to find out the acute level of unemployment existing in the state when postgraduates and MBBS students applied for the posts. If qualified people themselves are unable to get jobs, you could well imagine the plight of orphans who do not have anybody to fall back upon," he says. Moreover as orphanages do not allow them to continue their stay after plus two, they often end up as menial servants or as a second wife to some one. Some even take to deviant behaviour. I wanted to prevent this tendency by equipping them with a skill."
This gave birth to his Computer-Training Programme for orphans. Under the project students are given six months training in `Software Technician Support Course', apart from a daily stipend of Rs.25 and a maidservant to escort the girl students back to their orphanages after the class. " This is a professionally run course. Performance of the students are assessed every month by the instructor, a BE in computer science, through tests and certificates are issued at the end of the programme." It goes to Vaikunth's persevering spirit that out of the 30 students who underwent the programme since its inception in 2000, 12 have been placed in various companies and retail outlets across the city. The rest joined colleges to pursue higher studies.
Vaikunth describes his efforts `as journey in the quest of my own self.' "The journey continued even after I retired from government service. As I felt that I must do something for the destitute who have nothing to look forward and nowhere to go." And when it comes to the physically disabled the need is more imperative. D. Sarathy (name changed) is physically challenged. His father is a coolie. Physically challenged and financially crippled, Sarathy and his family have been teetering on the brink of poverty. Luck smiled on him when he was selected as one among the ten physically challenged chosen by Vaikunth for training in the manufacture of leather products at CLRI, Adyar. "Today my first priority is to get a job and then start a business of my own," says Sarathy. The six-month long training programme, which follows the regular syllabus, is organised jointly by K. Hashim foundation and CLRI.
Among Vaikunth's recent ventures is the adoption of `Paranur' village in Chengalpattu district. His espousal has brought its 2,500 villagers the much-needed leeway in terms of good roads and educational facilities. The village's middle school with strength of 250 students hardly had the facilities for students to learn. Children had to sit on dank floors during rainy season, as there weren't enough desk and benches. Realising the requirement, Vaikunth provided the school with an infrastructure worth one lakh rupees for its effective functioning. The once rugged and dusty lanes that lead into the village too have been given a facelift with the roads becoming even and levelled. "My next task is to improve the sanitary facilities," says Vaikunth.
However with the mounting financial burden, Vaikunth is now planning to register his projects as a trust, "may be then people will come forward to help me with my projects." Till then his projects will continue as a one-man crusade for social justice.
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