Telangana Prisons Department launches REHAI to train women inmates for premium fashion industry
The Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services Department on Wednesday launched a rehabilitation initiative aimed at helping skilled women inmates become professional fashion artisans by connecting
The Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services Department on Wednesday launched a rehabilitation initiative aimed at helping skilled women inmates become professional fashion artisans by connecting them to national and international markets. The programme, titled Rehabilitation and Empowerment Initiative for Women Inmates (REHAI), was launched at the Special Prison for Women, Hyderabad, under the leadership of DG of Prisons Soumya Mishra in collaboration with the Her Rights Foundation, represented by Divya Reddy and Bobby Kandhari. According to the department, the initiative seeks to upgrade the existing tailoring and embroidery skills of women inmates through design innovation, product development, branding and market access, enabling them to earn better incomes and prepare for sustainable livelihoods after their release.
The participating inmates had earlier completed a 100-day skill development programme in tailoring and embroidery conducted by the Telangana Prisons Department in association with NAC. REHAI is intended to build on those skills by training them to create designer garments and premium handcrafted apparel for niche markets. Officials said products made by the inmates will be marketed through the Telangana Prisons Department’s UpScale and High Society Market, with plans to expand across south India and later to markets across the country.
The programme will be mentored by fashion professional Divya Reddy, who has experience working with leading designers and contributing to Lakmé Fashion Week. She will guide inmates on contemporary fashion trends, quality standards, product finishing and market requirements. As part of the long-term plan, the Telangana Prisons Department and the Her Rights Foundation also intend to organise a designer fashion show in London featuring garments created by women inmates to showcase their work before an international audience. The launch programme was attended by DIG (Prisons) D.
Srinivas, Superintendent of Central Prison (Hyderabad) N. Shiva Kumar Goud, Superintendent of the Special Prison for Women (Hyderabad) T. Venkata Lakshmi Srinath, DSP (Jails) B. Amaravathi, representatives of the Her Rights Foundation, prison officials, staff and women inmates.
The BriefWire