DIMAPUR, AUGUST 7 (MExN): Mofida Begum wept and prayed as her daughter silently sat in her lap at the room where fellowships for prisoners are conducted at Sub-Jail, Dimapur, during a function today. An inmate of the prison facility, Mofida later said over tea that she was delighted by the gesture of the women development department in providing 10 sewing machines for female residents of the prison. Out of the 48 inmates in the jail, 23, including two children, are females. Mofida’s daughter is one among those who has to see the sunrise every morning from within the about fifteen-feet walls that confine the prisoners.
The notion to be ingrained in the minds of people is that jails are not punishment centres but institutes for inculcating a positive direction and purpose to life, parliamentary secretary Kaito Ayeh, who inaugurated the vocational centre housing the sewing machines, said in his speech. “We also realize that those inmates in jail should realize the quality of life.”
Such an initiative, which could have been introduced much earlier, is a first in the penitentiary. The idea is to empower inmates with skills they could use after they walk out of the iron gates of the prison.
Ayeh said he would approach Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for providing materials that even male prisoners could use for vocational purposes. He asked jail authorities to “keep us informed” on the usage of the sewing machines and urged them to support the inmates “in a positive manner.”
To this, additional inspector general for prisons, Avi Kechu, replied that the department would be updated, and assured “We will see to it that they (prisoners) don’t serve only sentences.” He said prison authorities would endeavour to enhance the quality of life of the inmates.
Instructors will soon be roped in to impart lessons to the women detainees and their aptitude will also be subsequently judged.
Though materials for vocational activities were earlier installed in the Central Jail at 4th Mile, the crunch in funds has led to their wear and tear. Male prisoners in that jail stitch the standard uniform for all jailbirds across Nagaland.
