Hyderabad: Prison administration training for 23 prison officers from eight States began at SICA Hyderabad on October 5. The five-day programme on “Leadership in Prison Administration” will run until October 9. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), New Delhi, is supporting the programme.
Dr. Soumya Mishra, IPS, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Telangana, inaugurated the programme. Officers from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh are taking part.
The participants include Deputy Superintendents, Jailors and Deputy Jailors. Their participation brings officers from different States together. They are sharing field experiences and exchanging ideas. They are also discussing effective practices in prison administration.
Addressing the officers, Dr. Soumya Mishra stressed the need to balance security and discipline with prisoner dignity. She also stressed human rights and prisoner welfare. She said effective prison leaders should remain firm and fair. At the same time, they should maintain discipline and treat prisoners humanely.
She also underlined the role of strong leadership in guiding prison staff. In addition, she stressed the need to support prisoner reformation and rehabilitation. Regular inspections and prison oversight also received emphasis.
Prison administration training focuses on inspections and prisoner welfare
Dr. Soumya Mishra also emphasised effective grievance redressal systems in prisons. In particular, she called for attention to women prisoners and other vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, the DG Prisons asked participants to engage actively in the prison administration training. She urged them to share their practical experiences. She also asked them to study successful practices followed in different States.
Furthermore, she urged the officers to apply relevant lessons in their respective prisons. She said the programme’s value would depend on practical improvements after the officers return to their prisons.
According to Dr. Soumya Mishra, certificates alone should not measure the programme’s success. Instead, she said officers should bring positive changes to their respective prisons after the training.
She also urged them to improve leadership and inspections. Prisoner welfare, grievance redressal and human rights were among the other areas she highlighted. Rehabilitation also remained a key focus.
The programme also brought together Sri M. Sampath, DIG Prisons, and Sri S. Srinivasa Reddy, Principal, SICA. Faculty members, SICA officers and staff also attended. The participating prison officers were present as well.
The five-day programme will continue at SICA, Hyderabad, through October 9.