More than 23,000 prisoners have gained literacy under the “Thumb In – Sign Out” initiative, while 28 inmates completed graduation last year through prison study centres in Telangana, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra said on Monday.

In a press release, Mishra said that under the programme, 108 inmates — including eight women — have been enrolled with the National Institute of Open Schooling to appear for the Class 10 examination.

“Under Thumb In - Sign Out motto, 23,220 prisoners were made literate. Under this programme, 108 inmates, including 8 women inmates, have been enrolled in NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) to appear for class X examination,” the release said.

It added that through study centres at Cherlapalli Prison, run by Dr B R Ambedkar Open University, 28 inmates completed their graduation in 2025.

Seeking to provide an opportunity for employment and impart employable skills to prison inmates, the Telangana Prisons Department has established 32 fuel outlets in partnership with oil companies like IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.

These are operated by around 57 semi-open prisoners, 165 released prisoners, 269 civilians, 14 retired staff apart from jail staff.

Telangana prisons witnessed 42, 566 admissions, both male and female in 2025 up 11.8 per cent compared to 38, 079 in 2024.

As many as 4,176 people lodged as in-mates under the POCSO Act in 2025 up over 11 per cent compared to 3,750 in 2024.

There were 109 women booked under POCSO Act in 2025, while it was 95 in 2024, the release added.