Telangana Prisons Department plans to open a Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) inside Cherlapalli Jail,aiming to boost vocational rehabilitation for inmates. Plan is to arm prisoners with job-relevant skills,thus enhancing employment chances once they're out.
ITI will offer training in modern trades like computer skills,Data Entry Operator (DEO) courses,electronics repair,food processing,renewable energy. Inmates currently get trained in around 20 trades,including steel making,carpentry,tailoring,farming. But lack of recognized certifications has been big hurdle. New ITI aims to fix that.
Officials think certified training will not only beef up skills but also make inmates more employable in tough job market. Criminal records often block reintegration,so recognized qualifications are key to overcoming these barriers .
1,622 inmates currently work in prison industries,earning ₹100-₹200 depending on skill level. ITI part of bigger push to expand beyond traditional prison trades. 78 inmates recently passed NIOS exam for Data Entry Operator training,getting certification that might help on job hunt.
Department is teaming up with skill-development groups to widen training scope. This includes beauty care,embroidery,jute craft,textile printing courses aligned with new job opportunities. Digital skills,renewable energy focus signals proactive approach to meet evolving market needs .
Last early release program saw 304 inmates freed; 111 got jobs at prison fuel outlets. 12 women received sewing machines for tailoring as livelihood. Now,172 released inmates work at these outlets across Telangana,showing some success in job placement post-release .
Social stigma remains a major hurdle. Many employers still wary of hiring ex-prisoners,so recognized qualifications crucial for helping them compete based on skills,not past. ITI seen as major shift in prison vocational system,offering inmates not just training but formal certification for potential employers .
If ITI works,it could be a big leap in inmate rehab,letting them rejoin society with skills,certificates for a fresh start…
