Coffee table book out in jail inmates’ event

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September19

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, presiding over a two-day conference on “Positive Engagement of Inmates in Prisons” organised by Prison & Correctional Services here today, urged society members to help jail inmates so that after the completion of their term, they could lead a normal life.

He said it became their duty that inmates’ families did not suffer. The Chief Minister also appreciated various initiatives of the department such as e-Peshi, e-Prisons softwares and facility of video-conferencing.

Thakur also released a coffee table book, ‘Har Hath Ko Kam - A Game Changer’, and gave appreciation awards to the people for their contribution to the welfare of prisoners.

Chief Minister visited the exhibition stalls and showed keen interest in the items prepared by the prisoners. A short film regarding Shimla Book Cafe was also shown.

Chief Secretary Shrikant Baldi said it was for the first time that a conference regarding prisoners was being held in such a positive energy.

Director General, of Prison & Correctional Services, Somesh Goyal said the thrust of the department had been to ensure proper rehabilitation of the jail inmates .

Goyal said the book café had become an icon of prison reform internationally and urged the Chief Minister to keep its identity intact. The Shimla MC has decided to outsource the book café run by prisoners and the tender process was initiated on September 12.