MANGALDAI, June 13 - The long- cherished dream of the inmates of Mangaldai District Jail to restart their incomplete careers in higher education is likely to come true as the Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University (KKHSOU) has taken up an initiative to offer an opportunity to them so that they can pursue their dream, that too free of cost.
This noble initiative with the support of Brilliant Academy, a local private junior college, came on Sunday with the inauguration of a study centre on the jail premises. The Vice-Chancellor of KKHSOU, Dr Hitesh Deka in the presence of the Inspector General of Prisons-cum-Additional Director General of Police, Jyotirmoy Chakraborty, District and Sessions Judge Gautam Barua, Mangaldai legislator Guru Jyoti Das and a number of local leading citizens, officials of the district administration and police, officials of the jail and a section of mediapersons formally inaugurated it by cutting a ribbon.
Addressing the function chaired by the District and Sessions Judge, Gautam Barua, Vice-Chancellor Dr Hitesh Deka deliberated about the thoughtful insight of such efforts made by the KKHSOU for the first time in the jails of Assam. �We already have set up four study centres exclusively for the jail inmates at Guwahati, Jorhat, Biswanath Chariali and Abhayapuri. Mangaldai is the fifth of its kind in the State. At present, a total of 337 study centres are functioning in the State under KKHSOU. We are taking up the matter with the Inspector General of Prisons for setting up study centres in all the jails of the State so that the under- trial prisoners (UTP) and the convicts can continue their higher studies through the Bachelor Preparation Programme. Any illegible convicts or UTP will be able to take direct admission into the degree course under KKHSOU,� said Dr Deka.
The Inspector General of Prisons Jyotirmoy Chakraborty, in his inaugural speech, appreciated the initiative of the KKHSOU for coming forward with the unique step for the jail inmates, who are often neglected by the mainstream society. He also appealed to the staff of the jail to join the study centre to complete their dreams of higher education.
Taking part in the inaugural function, the newly-elected BJP legislator of Mangaldai, Guru Jyoti Das appreciated the joint initiative of the KKHSOU, the jail authority and the Brilliant Academy for the academic and intellectual augmentation of the inmates of the jail. On being apprised of the drinking water problems being faced by the inmates of the jail, legislator Das assured to take the initiative for providing potable iron-free drinking water to the inmates of the jail.
The Registrar of KKHSOU, Rajat Baran Mahanta in his speech explained about the significance of the course of the KKHSOU in details. Bandana Saikia, a faculty member also delivered her speech on the occasion in the presence of several distinguished guests.
Additional Deputy Commissioners Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati and Nara Narayan Nath, Additional Superintendent of Police Suman Chakraborty, Superintendent of District Jail, Jon Dev Choudhury, Jailor AK Sarma, Principal of Brilliant Academy Jamuna Saharia Kalita, resource person Manoj Sarma, among others, also took part in the function.
The inaugural programme, anchored by the Medical Officer of the jail, Dr Dibya Jyoti Rajmedhi, was marked by a street drama staged by the convicts followed by a chorus performance composed by a convict.
