The illiterate prisoners of Motihari Central Jail will soon learn to read and write.

A literacy drive would start at the jail within a couple of days. An initiative of the state government, the drive would be conducted in all the prisons in Bihar.

To chalk out the strategy of the literacy camp, a survey was conducted in Motihari Central Jail. The study revealed that several prisoners were illiterate and were not in a position to write even their name.

Briefing about the survey report, the jailor of Motihari Central jail, Bhola Singh, said among the 1,280 inmates lodged in the prison, as many as 283 were illiterate. Of them, 250 are male prisoners. Some male and female activists of the CPI(Maoist) were also found to be illiterate, he said.

The survey report has been forwarded to the government, which has resolved to teach every jail inmate reading and writing. Special emphasis would be on the inmates misled by others because of illiteracy.

Singh said the literacy drive would certainly help the diverted or misled youth in the society to return to the mainstream.

“We hope that the initiative by the state government would prove fruitful for the inmates lodged in Motihari Central Jail and help them become a part of the social reconstruction process,” he added.

Social activists said the literacy drive would go a long way in redefining life of the illiterate prisoners. It would help them lead a respectful life in the society after serving the jail term, one of them said.