'Life Of Woman Is More Difficult In Family Than Jail,' Say Female Prisoners

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A 56-year-old Putlibai said that her childhood and married life were very difficult and painful. “I am in jail as I committed a crime. I was illiterate. I learned to read here, learned to draw and learned to read newspapers. I watch news on TV,” she said, adding that, “This can be jail for you. Here, I have freedom. The life of a woman is more difficult in the family.”

Similarly, Kalpana from transgender community is in jail but wants to be a fashion designer. “In the outside world, we are discriminated against. After coming here, I realized that there is no discrimination here. There is no opportunity to study outside. But I am studying here, “she said, adding that  “I want to become a fashion designer after leaving here and will do a course in fashion designing.”

These expressions were made by women prisoners in a one-day workshop on TV and newspapers as a means of reform and personality development in the women's ward of Central Jail Bhopal on Thursday by Madhya Pradesh State Women's Commission in collaboration with Tinka Tinka Foundation.

“I want to go out and do farming and raise my children,” Sunita Bai said, adding that “I regret my mistake. I am not able to learn gardening and farming by staying here. After leaving here, I want to raise my children by farming.”

President of the foundation Vartika Nanda motivated women to keep trying, not give up and move forward in every situation. Women in jail expressed their mental state through colours on paper.  They expressed their feelings through painting on topics like dreams in jail, radio in jail, celebrations in jail etc. Nanda motivated them for personality development and employment in future through TV and newspapers.

Member Secretary Madhya Pradesh State Women Commission Suresh Tomar said that the commission has been organising various programmes for skill development of women prisoners in jail and such initiatives will continue. “The commission will make continuous efforts for the uplift of women,” Tomar said, adding that  “We will soon conduct skill development programmes for all the women of the state.”

DIG jail M R Patel,  Jail Superintendent Rakesh Bhangre, Director and Anand Department Praveen Gangrade were present.

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