Haryana jail starts study centre for prisoners

KARNAL - In an attempt to provide educational opportunities to prisoners, the Haryana government has started a study centre at Karnal jail in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), officials said here Saturday.

“The study centre was inaugurated yesterday. This is an exemplary step by the state government to provide education to prisoners. We will put together all efforts so that maximum number of prisoners can be educated,” said Ashok Sharma, regional centre director, IGNOU.

“About 100 prisoners of Karnal Jail will be given admission in the first phase. Jail superintendent has been appointed as coordinator of this special study centre. Besides various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, many vocational courses will also be started in the coming months so that jail inmates can easily earn their livelihood after getting freed,” he said.

Karnal jail superintendent Jagjit Singh said t is the first prison in the state where education will be provided to the prisoners.

“A prisoner who has attained the age of 18-years can take admission in the bachelors degree program after doing the six month bachelor preparatory program of the IGNOU,” Singh said.