225
NEW DELHI:
The Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tihar Jail, Department of Prisons for training and skill enhancement of the inmates. The initiative is intended to support long term rehabilitation of the inmates and integration into the society.
With the collaboration, the skill varsity shall offer different skill based courses at Tihar Jail and award certificates upon successful completion of the program which will enable the inmates to be gainfully employed upon release from jail. It is envisaged that skill training shall enable inmates upon release to have an opportunity to respectfully integrate themselves into the society.
The University shall deploy trainers for imparting skill based courses for identified groups within the jail premises. It is proposed that a detailed assessment of existing skills and market requirements will be conducted before the launch of the courses, which shall be tailor-made for the prisoners.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Neharika Vohra, at the signing said, “we see this not just as a skilling program but something which also builds agency among the inmates. Through this initiative, we want to give the prisoners a second chance to lead a respectable life upon release. Along with skill development, we shall focus on providing foundational support and emotional-psychological well-being to the inmates for a more holistic learning experience.”
The Director General (Prisons), Sandeep Goel, IPS congratulated the University for partnering with Tihar Jail and remarked, “this is the need of the hour and with such a strong institutionalized collaboration, we could aim at long term reform of the prisoners. We can expand this program to add various skill courses which will lead to immediate employment of inmates upon release. This will give the inmates an opportunity to lead a dignified life.”
Mukesh Prasad, Additional Inspector General, also present at the MoU signing, praised the collaboration and said, “such formal collaborations between government bodies are a welcome step for long term sustainability of the program. It will lead to exchange of expertise and promote the common interests of knowledge enhancement and vocational training of the inmates of Delhi Prisons.”
Prof. Rihan Khan Pro Vice Chancellor, DSEU said, “in addition to skilling the University shall offer all the enrolled participants additional components of personality development, entrepreneurial mindset, financial literacy, digital literacy and spoken English. We will also look into recognition of prior learning and certify eligible candidates in existing skilling initiatives at Tihar Jail.”
Prof. Snigdha Pattnaik, Pro Vice Chancellor, DSEU highlighted the quality edge that the University adds to all its programs through its ‘Face-the-World’ package, a unique bundle of modules which lead to personality transformation and growth mindset among learners.
M.T. Kom, Dy. Inspector General (Tihar), Rajesh Chopra, Dy. Inspector General (Mandoli), Gurpreet Singh, Superintendent (PHQ), Rashmi Tyagi, Dy. Superintendent (PHQ), Ashwani Kansal, Registrar, DSEU and Deepak Dahiya, Dy. Registrar were also present at the signing event.
Under the collaboration, the University shall also conduct joint workshops, seminars, conferences with leading experts for innovation in delivery of skill programs in such a unique setting. It is also intended that along with capacity building of the identified groups, specialized programs may also be run for prison staff within the jail premises.The programs at Tihar are expected to launch from July 2022.