Shimla
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla stated that inmates in prisons have been engaged in various tasks under the “Har Hath Ko Kaam” initiative and the goods prepared by them are being sold through the HimKaara store. He commended that 40 percent of the profits are being given to the inmates as wages. He was addressing the inmates at the Model Central Correctional Home, Kanda in Shimla district today.
He said that inmates are being trained in various tasks at the correctional home so that when they leave prison, they could become self-reliant, able to care for their families and provide employment to others by starting start-ups.
He stated that the biggest criminal in society is the drug addict as those who consume drugs punish themselves and others for life. Accepting drugs into one’s life and serving them to others is also a crime, he added.
The Governor commended the cultural performances by the staff members and inmates at the correctional home. Additionally, he expressed happiness that a staff member had received a silver medal for singing at the All India level. He also noted that the inmates beautifully recited a chapter from the Bhagwad Geeta, for which the jail superintendent deserves congratulations.
Sh. Shukla honoured the representatives from various government and non-government organizations working for the betterment of correctional facilities and inmates. These included representatives from the Art of Living, Jawaharlal Nehru Government College of Fine Arts, Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, ISKCON Committee Shimla, Inner Wheel Club, Nofel Ek Umeed, Rotary Town Hall Shimla, Rotary Hill Queen Shimla, The Himalayan Velocity, Raj Vidya Kendra Shimla, Sathya Sai Samiti, Vardhan Textiles, Psychology Council and West Warrior.
Earlier, the Governor visited the exhibition of products prepared by the prisoners. He offered prayers at the temple built in the reformatory, paid floral tribute to the statue of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and also planted a sapling.
Additional Director General, Prison Abhishek Trivedi detailed about the various works being done by the department. He informed that recently an exhibition of products prepared by the prisoners was organised at Gaiety Theatre, Shimla from which an income of Rs 3 lakh was received.
