The state government has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for three years with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). Together, the state and TISS run a rehabilitation initiative for prisoners across state prisons. The initiative is known as “Prayas.” It aims to reintegrate prisoners into mainstream society and promote their welfare and rehabilitation.
Since its inception in 2016, Prayas has been implemented in five central prisons—Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and Yerawada—as well as at the Nashik Borstal School.
Under the project, 13 social workers are deployed across these prisons to provide a range of rehabilitation and welfare services. These include two male social workers in Aurangabad, three male and one female worker in Nashik, and male and female workers in Nagpur, Thane, and Yerawada. These professionals offer critical support to inmates both during incarceration and after release.
Core Objectives of the Project:
Rehabilitating undertrial and convicted inmates
Institutionalizing the role of social workers within the prison system
Providing psychological support and stability to inmates
Assisting prison administration in efficient functioning
Key Services Provided:
Social workers facilitate legal guidance, connect inmates with lawyers and legal aid services, and support their health, hygiene, and mental well-being. They organize counseling, health awareness sessions, vocational training, and assist in post-release reintegration, including travel support, ration supply, and livelihood assistance.
Impressive Reach and Impact:
Since the launch of Prayas, over 16,994 inmates, including 26 juvenile offenders, have received direct intervention. Of these, 12,275 are undertrials and 4,719 are convicted prisoners.
Counseling and Emotional Support:
A total of 12,588 inmates received psychological counseling to help cope with family distress, delays in bail, financial hardship, and medical or mental health issues. Follow-up sessions and problem resolution have been conducted where necessary.
Telephone Support and Family Coordination:
Recognizing the emotional toll of incarceration, the initiative facilitated 37,802 phone calls to families, lawyers, and officials to coordinate support. During the COVID-19 lockdown, special arrangements were made for inmates to maintain contact with their families despite the suspension of physical visits.
Home Visits for Deeper Support:
Social workers conducted 1,042 home visits, especially in cases where inmates had no family contact or support. These visits helped assess financial conditions, encourage family reunification, and facilitate bail or legal proceedings.
Legal Aid and Education:
“Prayas” conducted 16,691 legal counseling sessions, organized 42 legal workshops attended by over 10,000 inmates, and coordinated 2,045 court visits and 2,317 lawyer meetings. They also followed up on 1,122 personal bail cases and 226 police station visits.
Mental Health Services:
The project emphasizes mental health screening and support. Inmates are evaluated for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, with serious cases referred to the District Mental Health Program (DMHP) for treatment and hospitalization if necessary. Monthly mental health camps are conducted as part of this effort.
