Jail inmates get computer training in Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 14 (Calcutta Tube / IBNS) Vedanta Foundation, the social part of the diversified Vedanta Group, on Tuesday flagged off its prison program `Umeed’ in Kolkata with the inauguration of three Computer Training Centres at the Alipore Central, Alipore Womens’ and Presidency Central Correctional Homes.

The Centres were inaugurated by Shankar Chakravorty, Minister-in-Charge, Correctional Administration, Government of West Bengal, and Vedanta Foundation’s Brand Ambassador, Sushil Kumar, the winner of last Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) Sony, at a function here today.

“Setting up Computer Training Centre is a positive step for the jail inmates. Two inmates, with computer skills, have already been awarded jobs by the Vedanta Foundation. This small step marks the advent of a long journey ahead which, I am sure, would benefit many inmates,” said  Chakravorty.

Sushil Kumar, the brand ambassador and former student of Vedanta Foundation’s Motihari centre in Bihar, said at the inaugural function, “It was an indescribable feeling when I won the Kaun Banega Crorepati.

“Like wise, for any prison inmate, getting a job on completion of his or her prison term through campus placement can be as much or even more gratifying than winning the KBC.”

“We are glad to start our program in West Bengal, having successfully set up operations in some of India’s leading correctional homes, including Asia’s largest prison – Tihar,” said Debashis Chakraborty, Regional Manager – East, Vedanta Foundation.

“We expect to start more such centres and reach out to more inmates and offer them become responsible and productive citizens of India,” he said.

The Vedanta Prison Program christened `Umeed’ (meaning hope) aims to rehabilitate India’s prison population by providing them with the basic tools to secure livelihood, open up newer avenues to join the mainstream after the end of their jail terms.

Already 21 such centres have been set up in prisons across India, complete with equipment, books, faculty, certification and placements. It may be mentioned that last month more than 140 inmates (including women) got job placements in different companies after completing Vedanta Foundation’s vocational training courses.

These courses will help inmates find better job opportunities after their release, claimed Vedanta.

The three correctional homes in Kolkata, namely Alipore Central, Alipore Womens’ and Presidency Central, together as on date has approximately 1670, 260 and 2000 inmates.