A little help from a voluntary organisation here is transforming the lives of scores of undertrials lodged at Shahid Jubba Sahani Central Jail for the better.

Take the instance of Rekha Devi. The 54-year-old native of Ekchari in Bhagalpur managed to obtain bail after spending almost a year in the prison in a fraud case. Disowned by her own family, Rekha fought her legal case with money she earned through a special skill development programme run by Fateh Help Society (FHS) for women inmates in the jail. Rekha picked up skills to prepare items from jute and earned good money from their sale proceeds.

Similar were the cases of Jhajha native Kamli Devi (72) and Mili Singh (29) of Sahebganj, Jharkhand.

Kamli was locked in prison even after completing the life term, her family had disowned her long ago. FHS taught her to make soft toys and her efforts were appreciated by the local media. Kamli's sons recognised her from a newspaper article and rushed to the jail. She now leads a normal life with her two sons at Jhajha.

FHS helped Mili of Jharkhand. She and her husband, Arun Singh (36), have been in this jail since 2013 in an abduction case. Mili does not want to be released because she has been earning good money from the sale proceeds of her handicraft items. Her earnings support the education of her two sons at St Xavier's School, Sahebganj.

The government machinery failed to address issues of women prisoners, especially about their post-release rehabilitation, while FHS has been carrying such big responsibility with its limited resources.

Over more than 40 women inmates, languishing in jail for a long time, managed to obtain bail in the past year with the help of the money earned inside the jail. FHS provided them financial stability, which in turn, not only helped them fight their legal battles but also strengthened their positions in the society.

Shabna Dawood (28) of FHS narrated how she and her husband, Samsher Qusmi (36), struggled and managed to take permission of the jail authorities to initiate the skill development project inside the special female ward in the jail in August 2013. 'Any woman who goes to jail has to face problems, mostly after her release, because her family and the society do not accept her. So we provide them skill to earn for themselves and lead a comfortable life,' said Shabna.

Shabna started work with 81 women prisoners and their 11 children. 'FHS's 15-day skill development training run by two instructors provide them raw materials and have customers in India and abroad. Our website, www.fatehjuteproducts.com, too helps attracts clients,' she said.

Jail superintendent N.K. Jha said: 'FHS helped women prisoners empower themselves. Many obtained bail with their earnings inside the jail.'