Tihar’s Tryst with Computers

Twenty-five inmates of Tihar Jail number four in New Delhi were awarded

certificates for completing their basic course in computer applications on May

29. The six-month course (held for three hours daily, six days a week) comprises

computer fundamentals, the office suite and paintbrush. Inmates need to have

passed their Standard 10 examinations in order to qualify for this course.

BS Jarial, Superintendent of Central Jail number 4, distributed the

certificates to the inmates. In his address to the inmates, Jarial said, "

As under-trials in jail, you need to make the most of your time and learn

job-oriented skills in the area of information technology. It will make us

extremely proud if you can find work in this area after you are released."

The same batch of students has also started attending a course in desktop

publishing (DTP). This course comprises training in software packages like

PageMaker and CorelDraw and is oriented towards providing training for jobs in

the advertising and publishing industries.

Scope (Society for creating opportunity for people empowerment) Plus has been

imparting computer education to under-trials of CJ-4 in Tihar jail since the

past four years. Classes are conducted in two batches of 25 students each. Three

computers, donated by Cyber Media and IBM are used for conducting these classes.

The educated inmates of the jail conduct classes.

"In 1998, SCOPE Plus was invited by IGNOU to motivate school dropouts to

enroll for a computer literacy course. More than 400 youngsters from slums and

resettlement colonies attended the course in the centers selected by IGNOU’s

Extension center. Under the same program, SCOPE launched its own center in Tihar

CJ4," explains Seema Malhotra of Scope Plus.

Scope Plus also launched a computer class for the families of Tihar employees

in 2001 with Gaurav Sharma, the son of an Assistant Superintendent as the first

computer teacher.

Team DQ