Prisoners of three central jails in the state would soon be armed with computer training to become self-reliant.

The first computer-training centre for the prisoners was set up at Beur Central jail in Patna on Wednesday in collaboration with Vedanta Foundation, a social organisation working for the development of jail inmates. The organisation donated five computer sets and equipment and deputed a trainer for the purpose.

Inaugurating the centre, inspector-general (prisons) Anand Kishore said: “This is a positive step for the jail inmates. Such small steps mark the beginning of a long journey ahead and would benefit many prisoners.”

He added that similar centres would start functioning at Shaheed Khudi Ram Bose central jail at Muzaffarpur and Shaheed Jubba Sahni central jail at Bhagalpur. A memorandum of understanding was signed between representative of the jail department and the Vedanta Foundation recently.

Beur jail superintendent Shivendra Priyadarshi said 56 prisoners have already been enrolled to the training centre. They have been divided into five batches — each comprising about 10 candidates). “The centre would operate in five shifts and each batch would be allotted an hour for training a day,” he clarified.

The Vedanta Foundation would provide them with certificates after the two-month course. “The organisation will also work for the placement of the skilled prisoners after completion of their jail term,” he said. Vedanta Foundation regional director (east) Debashis Chakraborty said: “Our aim is to rehabilitate the prisoners by providing them with the basic tools to secure livelihood.”