NEW DELHI, May 11:
For the first time, Delhi’s Tihar jail – the largest complex of prisons in South Asia – will organise a special campus placement drive for its women inmates, which is to take place by next month.
The decision came after the recent encouraging outcome of a similar Tihar campus placement endeavour which helped its male inmates bag packages as high as Rs 4.5 lakh per annum.
Tihar has been introducing their inmates, those nearing their release, to campus placements since 2010, as the inmates with a criminal background find it hard to get a job.
Since 2010, more than 400 Tihar inmates have been successfully placed and have received help for getting a job before their release, but the number has always been inconsiderable for women inmates.
Only 15 women have till date been benefited by Tihar’s placement drive. The administration has now sought to organise a special campus placement for the women inmates of jail number 6 to help them give a new start to their life outside the jail.
“We are planing things in this direction and the information is being gathered. The placement would be specially for convicted women inmates of jail number 6 who are completing their sentence within six months from now,” Sunil Gupta, PRO Tihar jail, told PTI.
Around 600 women inmates are at present lodged in Tihar Jail, serving sentences for various offences.
The companies that are in tie-up with the jail will be called in and all the eligible women inmates will be introduced to these firms. For those who are selected, their offer letters will rest with the jail administration and would be handed over to them on release, Gupta said.
Talking about the professional training and areas of interest of the inmates, Gupta said, “There are women who are highly qualified. There are also around 25-30 who are pursuing higher education from the jail.
“Others have been trained in preparing household items, packaging of items, as beauticians and in other areas so that they can earn their living independently after completing their jail terms.”
He said that these women were mostly convicted under offences of cheating and had been serving sentence for past 4-5 years. No life term inmate is among those appearing for placements, he said.
Talking about the firms that hire these inmates, Gupta said that corporate houses with a proven track record are included in the drive and they were working on increasing the number of companies involved in the process.
Recently, in a placement drive at Tihar, 66 male inmates from jail number 3 were provided with jobs, but none of the women inmates participated in the reformation process.
Director General of Tihar, Vimla Mehra, had on the occasion said that a placement drive would soon be held for the women’s jail of Tihar.
She said it was important for the development and growth of women inmates once they were out after serving their prison terms.
“We are sure of our women inmates grabbing good offers at the placement that is to take place,” she said.
At Tihar, the aim is to always reform a convict’s life and make him/her able enough to lead an independent life, she said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel