In an attempt to inculcate patriotism among inmates, the State Prison Department is mulling the idea of introducing a ‘sound and light' show that will showcase the historical significance of prisons with specific reference to the freedom struggle.
To start with, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) S.K. Dogra said, the show was proposed in the Puzhal prison complex here that houses two central prisons and a special prison for women.
The prisoners would get to know about the leaders who fought for the country and were jailed.
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Prison authorities are also contemplating installation of several artistic statues on the prison campus to establish a more conducive ambience for promoting education, art and industry.
“They will all be big statues spread across the campus. But for a statue of ‘Bharat Mata' (Mother India), others will be rich in skilful art works. We want some kind of an ashram environment in the prison so that the process of reformation becomes more meaningful,” he said.
Mr. Dogra said about 10 convicts, including some serving a life sentence, were trained on pencil portraits.
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“There are very good artists in the prison who have demonstrated their skills more than once. Initially they will be allowed to sketch the portraits of visitors. We are writing to the government seeking permission to allow them visit places of tourist importance in the city and earn money through pencil portrait drawings. For instance, they can visit the Marina Beach in the evening and draw portraits.”
Besides various academic activities, the inmates lodged in nine central prisons, three special prisons for women and 110 other prisons across the State were undergoing courses in yoga and meditation.
In Puzhal prison complex, the ADGP himself turns a meditation teacher for the inmates every Sunday, prison sources said.
As on December 6, 2011, the number of inmates in Tamil Nadu prisons were 13,950, including 765 women.