Hyderabad: A five-day national-level prison leadership training programme began at SICA Hyderabad on Monday. The programme, supported by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), New Delhi, will continue until October 9.
The programme has brought together 23 prison officers from eight States. The participating States are Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Ladakh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.
The participants include Deputy Superintendents, Jailors and Deputy Jailors. Their participation is aimed at promoting experience-sharing and the exchange of best practices in prison administration.
Dr Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Telangana, inaugurated the programme. She called for a balanced approach that combines prison security and discipline with dignity, human rights and prisoner welfare.
Addressing the officers, Dr Mishra said effective prison leadership required officers to remain firm while being fair. She also stressed the need for humane discipline, staff motivation and an environment supporting prisoner reform and rehabilitation.
The DG highlighted regular inspections and effective prison oversight as key components of accountable prison management. She also stressed human rights protection, grievance redressal and monitoring mechanisms.
Dr Mishra particularly emphasised responsive grievance systems for women prisoners and other vulnerable inmates. She urged the participants to consider their specific concerns while strengthening prison administration.
The DG also asked the officers to participate actively in the training sessions. She encouraged them to share field-level experiences and examine successful practices followed in other States.
Prison leadership training focuses on welfare and accountability
Dr Mishra said the knowledge gained during the prison leadership training should lead to tangible improvements. She identified leadership, inspections, prisoner welfare, grievance redressal, human rights and rehabilitation as key areas.
She said the programme’s success should be assessed through the changes participants bring to their respective prisons. The emphasis, therefore, was on applying the training beyond the classroom.
The five-day programme provides officers from different States with an opportunity to exchange operational experiences. It also creates a platform for discussing approaches to prison leadership and correctional administration.
DIG Prisons M. Sampath and SICA Principal S Srinivasa Reddy attended the inaugural programme. Faculty members, SICA officers and staff, along with the participating prison officers, were also present.
The programme will continue at the State Institute of Correctional Administration in Hyderabad through October 9. Its focus remains on strengthening leadership, accountability, prisoner welfare and rehabilitation within prison administration.