Jamshedpur, March 3: The inmates at Sakchi Jail have found a reason to live healthy. A bunch of dedicated students from Vig English School have brightened up their dank cells. An organised committee of students and teachers from the school, affiliated to Prison Fellowship India (PFI), is trying to reform the inmates through love and affection.

The understaffed and over-crowded jail has now become a hub of creative activity. “Young undertrials are advised to enrol themselves in the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and a team of trained teachers and students is conducting classes for the criminals,” said Fr. Flavian Topno, vice-principal of Vig English School.

“Stanley Phillips, secretary of Vig School, has been instrumental in spreading awareness after attending a training programme at PFI. It is an organisation that runs the Kottayam-based International Institute of Correctional Management,” said Topno.

“Members of the Jamshedpur chapter of PFI even went to the inmates’ houses with a request to let their wards continue their education,” he added.

The team even raised funds to help the pay their examination fees. The money collected amounted to a whopping Rs 60,000. Of the 39 students, who enrolled themselves, 24 appeared for their Secondary Examination from NIOS Board, Delhi last year and came out with flying colours. The rest is appearing for the 2004 board examination, which has begun.

The first taste of success has not only inspired the school team to expand its ambit of work, but also inspired other inmates.

“The students also donated two computers with the requisite infrastructure. A computer instructor also visits the jail and now we have five batches of trainees who have undergone DTP training,” said Deepak Kumar Vidyarthi, superintendent of Sakchi Jail.

This apart, the inmates also play indoor games donated by the school. “We also have a well-stocked library,” Vidyarthi added. Soap making, doll-making, mask-making and a variety of other creative work also goes on in the confines of the prison.

The Jamshedpur Chapter of PFI also organises moral and religious instruction classes for the inmates.

“These classes helped the inmates assess their lives and have had a remarkable impact on them,” Fr. Topno said.

Endeavours by young students have inspired many others to join hands to champion the cause. State Bank of India, Jamshedpur have come forward to sponsor 19 of the NIOS board examinees. The DTP training has also brought in handloom equipment through SBI sponsorship. Many NGOs such as Rotary Club, Lions’ Club, several women’s groups, Nagrik Suraksha Manch and several other organisations have started conducting self-awareness programmes like Yoga, Art of Living, health and handicrafts fairs. Festivals and national occasions are celebrated with fanfare inside the jail.

With Sakchi jail being awarded a model jail status, reform efforts have paid off rich dividends. “Now, we aim to extend our work to other jails of Jharkhand and train more hands so that they can fend for themselves,” Topno said.