Vocational works helping jail inmates overcome stress
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2012: For a number of female inmates lodged at Manipur Central Jail, Imphal indulgence in vocational activities is one of the ways to repent their past unlawful acts and hope for a better future, said prison authorities.

Talking to mediapersons during an inspection tour of the prison complex today, Jail Superintendent (SP) Immanuel K Muivah said female inmates are being provided vocational training in making soap/detergent, agarbati, barti, mora (stool made from plastic coils and bamboo splinters) and embroidery works.

Informing that vocational activities were actually introduced to the inmates about 10 years back, the SP said owing to various reasons such works had to ceased intermittently only to resume from this year onward.

Explaining that objective of providing vocational courses to the female inmates is to enable them learn the basics of generating income, IK Muivah exuded confidence that when released from the jail one can pursue respectable livelihood.

With regard to the finished products of the inmates, he said either the jail staff or visitors purchase these items.

Confiding that jail staff contribute from their own pockets to purchase requisite materials on top of Government policy of providing wages to the working inmates, the SP expressed that indulgence in different vocational activities enables the inmates to concentrate on their respective assignment and forget the pangs of long confinement.

Speaking to the visiting newspersons one of the inmates namely Puyam Memton alias Sabitri (48) said she was pleasantly surprised upon learning that jail authorities provide vocational training to the inmates.

Conceding that reading newspapers or journals everyday inside the prison sometimes become a boring affair, Sabitri said involvement in various trades helps her to relax mentally.

Contending that inspite of her retirement from the proscribed RPF/PLA organisation, she was arrested on March 26 this year and imprisoned since April 19 as an NSA detainee, Sabitri said female inmates from different communities working together and living under the same roof is a new and enlightening experiment for her.

Some other female inmates suggested that Social Welfare Department too chip in with material provision for expanding the vocational activities so that efforts of the jail authorities are even more meaningful and productive.

They also desired that Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai Devi being a woman should also visit the detention centre to assess condition of the female inmates.

Including anti AFSPA crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila, 39 female prisoners are enlisted as inmates of Manipur Central Jail.

The other prisoners include one convict, nine detained under National Security Act (NSA) and 28 others languishing in the jail as under-trials.

Cases registered against these inmates ranged from UG activists to drug peddlers/abusers.

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