The Kerala Prisons department’s idea of making all convicts and even undertrials lodged in jails across the state e-literate by way of handing them with personal email IDs comes across as a path breaking move, to say the least. Going by what Loknath Behra, Director General of Police – Prisons, the email IDs will be ready for use by jail birds by the end of this month.
That makes it a fair amount of effort for the department, as Kerala’s jails – which number 55 – currently house a total of 6771 men prisoners and 193 women. Creating personal email IDs for each inmate is expected to be kicked off with immediate effect so that the July-end deadline is met.
But then, you might be wondering what use these email IDs would prove to be of for jail inmates who aren’t supposed to use mobile phones inside the four walls of the prisons. The department has had its task cut out on that front too.
Each jails will be provided with computers and internet connectivity so that the prisoners can check or send emails whenever they need to. However, this will be permitted under strict police supervision, so as to prevent any foul play.
And, what if the jailbirds who have personal email IDs in their name aren’t so computer or internet savvy? Now, that’s the whole objective, right. E-literacy is what the project is intended at, and so those who aren’t familiar with the PCs and Net use would be imparted training under the aegis of the department.
Image courtesy: Coastal Digest
The project carries with it the risk of being tricky as it involves jail inmates, after all. However, the Prisons department has decided to make the whole process fool-proof by planning to list down rules and guidelines for use of the computers and emails.
A noble effort this e-literacy project indeed is, but this one will call for extra caution from the part of the police department. With a full force behind the initiative, we need to expect the project to sail smooth.
So by the end of this month, every inmate will go online, and behind the high walls of Kerala’s prisons a big bunch of Net savvy jail birds will scream: Aliya, I have got mail!
