Beur Central Jail. Telegraph picture

Patna, May 26: In an effort to complement the literacy drive launched across the jails in the state, prison authorities and the state human resource development (HRD) department have decided to set up libraries in these correctional facilities.

Lalan Jha, the deputy director of the directorate of mass education, a wing of the HRD department, said: “We have decided to set up a library each in all 54 jails in the state. The directorate will spend Rs 10,000 on each facility.”

Jha also said the motive behind setting up these library is to allow the literate inmates as well as others, who have an interest in reading and writing, gain more knowledge.

“The libraries will have books of interesting topics such as short stories on the life of important persons, stories on inspiring topics and even religious texts,” he added.

Jha also said: “The main idea is to develop a positive thinking among inmates so that when they come out of jails, they have a positive outlook towards life.”

The directorate of mass education has requested the National Book Trust and the Children’s Book Trust to prepare a list of the books to be added to the library. Books written in simple language will be kept in the library.

Jha also said: “Apart from books, the library will also have magazines and newspapers so that the inmates can keep themselves updated with latest developments around the world. Apart from setting up the libraries, it has also been decided that the HRD department and the jail administration will set up 181 literacy centres in the 54 jails.”

The literacy centre will act as the nodal centre where illiterate prisoners will be taught to read and write. While setting up these centres, the ratio of jail inmates in respective jails will also be taken into account. In Beur Central Jail, 10 centres will be set up.

Jha said: “In this centre, the illiterate inmates will be taught by their literate ones. The directorate of mass education is going to spend Rs 24,000 per centre.”

Anjani Kumar Singh, principal secretary, HRD department, said: “The present literacy campaign will be similar to the campaign started by the department three years back in various jails.”

In 2008, the HRD department, along with jail authorities, had launched a literacy campaign inside the jail, taking the help from people attached with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. This campaign covered over 600 illiterate inmates, including 54 women.