Class act

Dhanbad, April 2: Learning computers is fun, even behind bars.

Students of Indian School of Mines University (ISMU) are on a mission to teach computers to the prisoners of Dhanbad jail, that too, a Bachelors in Computer Applications programme.

Fast Forward India (FFI), an ISMU student society, is conducting two-hour lessons on weekends on the jail campus since the past two weeks. A syllabus has been drawn up to facilitate the classes and so far 20 students have enrolled for the course. They have been given three computers on the premises.

Vikash Mitruka, a third-year mining engineering student of the institute actively involved in social work, said: “We started this venture on the insistence of inspector-general of the prisons, Sunil Burnwal, who also happens to be an alumni of the institute. Previously, we organised an education programme Jagriti for students of Lahbani village of Dhaiya over a year ago.”

The society, constituted about 18 months ago, is also involved in a number of other activities, including organising computer training programme for slum kids, counselling students of poor localities and organising blood donation camps.

Over 96 students of the Lahbani have already been covered under the programme where they were taught computer basics with special emphasis on MS Office. Arrangements were also made to conduct lessons in Hindi.

Dhiraj Jha, another student, said that they have bigger plans ahead. Students want to teach C, C++ and even Tally. “We wanted to provide certificates on our own but now we have decided to tie-up with NIOS and NIIT.”

The society has also started another centre at Koranga Basti where over 21 students have taken admission.