In Visakhapatnam Central Jail, learning skills for life away from crime
Young men in crisp blue uniforms file quietly into a book-lined classroom, each carrying a stack of textbooks. In a room adorned with motivational slogans
Young men in crisp blue uniforms file quietly into a book-lined classroom, each carrying a stack of textbooks. In a room adorned with motivational slogans about discipline, hard work, and success, they settle into neat rows, waiting for the day’s lesson to begin. Moments later, trainer D. Venkata Sai walks in with a book tucked under his arm. The class rises to greet him before settling in for a practical session on computer hardware and system troubleshooting. Questions come thick and fast, and the discussion soon expands to how artificial intelligence is reshaping the technological landscape. At first glance, the scene appears to be that of a college or a skill development centre. But in reality, it is actually inside the Visakhapatnam Central Jail, and the students are not ordinary learners but remand prisoners, with the trainer being a convict prisoner. As it turns out, the young remand prisoners are participating in an innovative rehabilitation initiative called the ‘Office Assistant’ programme, launched by the Visakhapatnam Central Jail authorities in collaboration with the Skill Development Institute (SDI). The programme is the brainchild of Central Jail Superintendent Mahesh Babu and Deputy Superintendent Ch. Surya Kumar, both of whom have professional backgrounds in Information Technology. It aims to equip young remand prisoners in the age group of 18 to 35 with basic computer knowledge and office management skills, enabling them to improve their employment prospects after their release. It primarily targets inmates charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, who account for nearly 60 per cent of the prison’s inmate population. To guide these underqualified youth, the prison authorities looked inward, finding an instructor with an exceptional academic background—D. Venkata Sai. A native of Anakapalli district, Venkata Sai is a convict serving a sentence for abetment in a suicide case. He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Over the years, he has worked with prestigious organisations and now spends his time training young remand prisoners in digital and office skills inside the Visakhapatnam Central Jail. Looking ahead, Venkata Sai explains that the programme has been designed to begin with the fundamentals before gradually introducing advanced concepts. “We started with the basics, including the different components of a computer, storage devices, connected devices, printers, scanners, photocopiers and their purposes. Once the inmates became familiar with the hardware, we moved on to practical applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, cloud storage, data backup, routine office procedures and the maintenance of office equipment.” Hoping of helping them rebuild their lives, he says, “Besides technical skills, I am also training them in basic English communication, behavioural skills, and body language so that they become more confident while attending interviews and working in professional environments.” The programme is open to remand prisoners who have completed Class X, a qualification possessed by most of them.
The BriefWire