Balangir, Sept 8: As many as 38 inmates of Balangir District-Jail have shown interest in studies in the last two years.
While 31 inmates are continuing in X and XII classes, 24 inmates successfully completed their couses this year and have been provided educational qualification certificates.
Another seven inmates are pursuing higher education in different courses. The highly educated inmates are helping them in their studies.
Under the prison reform initiatives, the jail authorities offered studying facility to inmates two years ago.
The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Odisha State Open University (OSOU) have opened their centres in the jail premises. NIOS is providingng only matric and +2 courses while OSOU is providing higher education.
The interested inmates first registered themselves with necessary documents like, Aadhar card, PAN card etc and later NIOS 7 OSOU provided them study materials.
As many as 12 inmates passed matric examination and three passed +2 in 2022. This year, eight inmates passed matric and one passed +2. Similarly, three inmates have registered for matric examination in 2024 and eight inmates for +2 while eight others are pursuing higher education.
Patnagarh parcel bomb accused Punjilal Meher is pursuing his Masters Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
Two inmates lodged under POCSO Act are pursuing +3 Arts while three inmates are continuing BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) and one is studying BJMC (Bachelor in Journalism and Mass Communication).
