The Deputy Jailor of Women Central Prison, Puzhal, R Neelamani hogged the limelight in the in-service course for prison officers, conducted by the Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration (APCA). She won four medals for outstanding performances in various fields.
She emerged as the topper in 18th batch of in-service course. She bagged the Government of Andhra Pradesh award for best in Penology Probation Parole and After Care, Kerala Government’s award for best in Prison and Correctional Administration, APCA’s award for best in subjects and the Tamil Nadu’s award for best all-rounder. She received the awards from the chairman of Board of Management of APCA and director general of Prisons and Correctional Service, AP, T Krishna Raju, during the convocation programme.
R Neelamani joined service as deputy jailor in Special Prison for Women in Vellore in 2000 and was transferred to the Central Prison for Women at Puzhal in 2005.
During her tenure in Vellore prison, Neelamani took an initiative to help the children of life convicts receive good education. “We roped in a trust and a non-governmental organisation to admit the children to schools and colleges to pursue higher studies,” Neelamani said.
Neelamani, an alumni of Quaid-E-Millath Government College for Women, in Chennai, said she gave top priority to counselling women convicts, particularly those pregnant, as they get depressed and face a lot of stress.
At a function organised at the APCA in Vellore, Krishna Raju gave away certificates and awards to the 13th batch of basic course for prison officers and 6th batch of the one-month refresher course. The prison officers were from AP, TN and Kerala.
Director of APCA M R Ahmed and deputy director of APCA, A Badarudeen, were among those present on the occasion.