Previously known as Jamujhari
Open Air Jail Khurda, this prison is now coined as an
Open Air Ashram with the efforts of Arupa Mission Research
Foundation. It was renamed as The open Air Ashram and
the inputs of AMRF were inauguratedby the Honorable
Chief Minister of thestate, Sri. NaveenPatnaik on the
27th of March 2005. There are 70 jails in Orissa with
a population of 12709.
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Amongst these
jails, those who serve life imprisonment buthave
shown good conduct are sent to Biju Patnaik
Open Air Ashram. What makes this place different
is that there are neither walls nor bars. After
serving here for a short time and picking up
some skills, these inmates are left to return
to the outside world. Although the picture seems
to be bright, AMRF identified through its research
and survey various problems associated with
the living conditions, confidence and basic
humane needs of the inmates . |
| These
included:
- The lack of
proper electrification, ventilation and water
sources
- Lack of toilets
and poor sanitation
- Lack of proper
medical care
- Introverts
and lack of confidence, poor self esteem
- Lack of marketing
strategy for sale of products made by the
inmates
- Need for
literacy and education.
- Declination
from being mainstreamed because of social
stigma
|
 |
Surveying
Prospects
|
Having marked
the requirement of these basic necessities AMRF
felt that although the inmates were imprisoned
for whatever crime or reason, yet their living
conditions and state of health and survival
were indeed gruesome and this pushed them into
the vulnerable category. They were stigmatized
by society and had no means of survival after
being freed. This project was initiated on the
19th of July 2004 with permission and in collaboration
with Office of the Additional D.G. of Police
cum I.G. of Prisons and Directorate of Preventive
Service, Bhubaneshwar, Odisa. The project cost
is 15, 00000 INR. |
The finances for the project are
from AMRF and Exfin Shipping Company Ltd. The project
is under completion. A first of its kinds in Odisa,
Arupa Mission Research Foundation has been requested
by the Office of the Additional D.G. of Police cum
I.G. of Prisons and Directorate of Preventive Service,
Bhubaneshwar, Odisa to take up the remaining 69 jails,
with similar inputs which AMRF has agreed to do so.
To address the needs of the inmates AMRF has provided
the following for their rehabilitation and mainstreaming
efforts:
- Solar Electrification
of the Open Air Ashram: provision for 15 street
lights and home lights
- Provision of solar
water pumps and overhead tank of capacity 15,000
litres.
- Provision of six
toilets and a bathing ghat
- Provision of free
medical checkup by doctors every Sunday, free medicine
distribution and donation of instruments like thermometer,
stethoscope, Blood Pressure instrument and torches.
- Yoga and meditation
training for the body mind and soul on every Sunday
for developing self confidence and esteem
- Marketing of products
manufactured by the inmates directly in the society
- Efforts for mainstreaming
by facilitating in community celebrations and festivals
outside the open air ashram.
- Training to the
inmates on solar electrification and solar water
pump management and maintenance.
All these activities have
been carried out with enthusiastic and active
participation of not just AMRF and its group
of engineers and staff but so also the inmates
of Biju Patnaik Open Air Ashram, the concerned
representatives of the Office of the Additional
D.G. of Police cum I.G. of Prisons and Directorate
of Preventive Service, Bhubaneshwar, Odisa.
Further to mainstream inmates who would
be released in the immediate near future,
efforts are being made for their participation
in community programmes. For example- seven
inmates were allowed to open a stall without
any bindings and participate in socio-religious
cultural programmes during the Vishwa Shanti
Mahayagyan held in the last week of April
2005. They sold darries, Phenyl, mustard
oil, mats, gamchas and other products produced
by Jails from all over the state. |
Inmates
of the Ashram with the |
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