THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The prisons in the state lay focus on correctional administration and rehabilitation post-release, DGP (Prisons) Loknath Behera has said.
He was addressing mediapersons after inaugurating the modern gymnasium at the Central Jail here on Friday. “Besides fitness, the gymnasium will focuse on rehabilitation of inmates after their release. Experts will coach them to become professional gymnasium trainers,” he said. The programme is titled ‘fitness for freedom.’Behera said the jails in the state had implemented several modernisation initiatives. An e-literacy programme, in association with the P N Panicker Foundation, enabled around 150 inmates to browse internet and communicate via email. The jails were at present named prison and correctional homes.
The modern gymnasium was set up utilising `5 lakh from the Welfare of Prisoners Scheme. It has treadmills, elliptical and several other workout equipment and facilities.
A professional trainer, Skylark, hailing from Kollam, has been selected as the official trainer. The authorities said around three professional trainers among the inmates would also be roped in, among whom was a Mister India 2006. Prisons DIG (South Zone) B Pradeep, Central Prison Superintendent A G Suresh, Joint Superintendents S Asokakumar, N S Nirmalanandan Nair and Mohanakumaran Nair attended the inaugural function.