Bhubaneswar, Jul 28: In a significant reformative initiative, inmates across Odisha's prisons will soon be able to watch patriotic films on national festivals and other important occasions. The Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services has issued instructions to senior superintendents of all circle jails and Range Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) regarding the implementation of the new programme.

According to the official communication, patriotic movies and documentaries will be screened every year on occasions such as Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti within prison premises. The directive also states that prior approval from the jail superintendent will be mandatory before any film or documentary is screened.

The department has clearly prohibited the screening of films featuring crime, sexual content, excessive violence, suspense, or controversial themes. The move is aimed at ensuring that the content viewed by inmates contributes positively to their mental and moral development rather than glorifying criminal behaviour.

The initiative follows a proposal submitted to the Chief Minister on July 13 by Jagatsinghpur MLA and Chairman of the District Planning Committee, Amarendra Das. In his letter, the legislator argued that patriotic films could help bring about positive psychological changes among prisoners and assist in their rehabilitation by encouraging them to rejoin society as responsible citizens after serving their sentences.

The Alaka Ashram Management Committee in Jagatsinghpur, which has been working for the rehabilitation of prisoners for over a year, also welcomed the move. Committee president Gouranga Charan Hota said that many individuals end up in prison due to adverse circumstances, bad company, or momentary lapses in judgment. He noted that prison provides an ideal environment for self-reflection, and inspirational patriotic films can play a meaningful role in transforming inmates' outlook on life and encouraging their reintegration into society.