PATTAM featured in The Hindu
Click the link to read now: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/over-2900-pass-programme-for-first-time-offenders/article36409707.ece
PRISM
PATTAM program adapted for Juveniles
Earlier this year, we received a request from the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) to provide individual and family counselling for juveniles in conflict with the law. Being aware of the huge need for the youngsters, we explored the possibility of adapting the PATTAM programme to suit this age group. After making adjustments to the programme, on 13th March 2021 we launched PATTAM at the Government Observation Home for Boys in Kellys, Chennai. Hon’ble Mr Justice P.N.Prakash inaugurated the project. The programme was adapted to deal with the top two triggers for juvenile delinquency – addiction and dysfunctional families. To address these, we established a counselling centre on the campus of the Observation home, Kellys, Chennai. Here, our counsellors, on the order of the JJ board, meet juveniles individually and with families, for counselling sessions. In addition to counselling, we engage the boys in the observation home at Kellys and Madurai with interactive sessions from Monday to Friday, where the topics are focused on Understanding Self, Goal setting, Decision Making and Handling Emotions. So far, we have been able to help 100 boys through counselling. The counsellors do a minimum of five sessions with each boy and additional sessions are conducted depending on the needs of the child and the family. Apart from these psychological interventions, we engage boys with life skills through sports for two hours in the evenings from Monday to Friday. The boys are engaged with sports activities and the lessons for life they can learn from that sport.
Training of Trainers concludes
To make the PATTAM programme sustainable, 5 selected Convict Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) (Refer NALSA Scheme of Para Legal Volunteers) from each Central Prison, in Tamil Nadu, were brought to the Central Prison II Puzhal, Chennai and on 14th March 2020, the Training of Trainers (TOT) programme was inaugurated by Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, DGP&CS. A team from PRISM under the leadership of Mr. Emmanuel Angelo, an expert trainer, conducted the comprehensive TOT programme to equip them with the skills necessary to conduct the PATTAM classes in their respective prisons. Due to the pandemic, the TOT programme had to be continued online from their respective prisons and closed on 9th October 2020. The valedictory programme held on 10th October 2020, was presided over by the former Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Amreshwar Pratap Sahi. 39 out of the original 40 PLVs successfully completed the training. The TOT programme has equipped these convict PLV’s to not only conduct the PATTAM classes but also to assist in the conduct of Pre-release programmes, apart from assisting the Psychologists and Counsellors in the prisons in the discharge of their duties.
COVID-19 emergency at the prisons
In light of the lockdown declared by the Government, to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the TOT programme was closed midway on the 21st March 2020. PRISM provided suggestions for decongestion and sanitisation of the prisons, all of which have been implemented. Around 1,200 inmates have been released mainly on bail from the Central Prison at Puzhal and more are being considered. There are still 42 inmates in the Saidapet Sub Jail for whom efforts are being made for release on their own bond. Masks are being produced in the prisons and being supplied to Health workers. Video calls are being arranged for prisoners with their families for them to know that they are safe. The writ petition filed by PRISM in the Madurai High Court, which was reported in the newspapers, is still pending, but all the suggestions have been considered and dealt with.
Training of Trainers put on hold
The Training of Trainers (TOT) programme that commenced on 14th March, had to be discontinued abruptly on 21st March 2020 in view of the COVID-19 emergency. The plan is to restart and complete the programme, at the earliest, once the emergency is over. During the final session on 21st March, all the trainees expressed their happiness and satisfaction with the programme. They presented oil paintings, done by one of the trainees, to Emmanuel Angelo – the Trainer, Ravi Kumar Paul – Managing Trustee of PRISM and G Saraswati – Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Tiruvallur, as tokens of their appreciation. They have made a commitment to study the material provided. With the help of the Prison psychologist, they intend to use their learning for the benefit of the other inmates, until the programme recommences.
Training of Trainers commences at Central Prison-I, Puzhal
PRISM aims to make the rehabilitation programmes, running in the prisons, self-sustaining. With this goal in mind, the idea of Training the Trainers came about in the middle of last year. The idea was to train convicts that are serving life sentences, or long terms, to conduct the rehabilitation programmes within their prisons, for petty offenders. The benefits of this are two-fold – the convicts learn a new skill and there is a ready pool of resources available to serve as trainers. Besides, those under remand are likely to relate better to convicts than to trainers from the outside. The next step was to identify a suitable trainer to conduct the TOT (Training Of Trainers) programme. On a visit to the Academy of Prisons and Correctional Administration (APCA), Vellore, the PRISM team met Beulah Emmanuel, a Senior Faculty member of APCA. When she learned of PRISM’s requirement, she introduced the PRISM team to her husband, Mr. Emmanuel Angelo. Mr. Angelo is a veteran in the field of training. He has vast experience training for an international organization and for the Police department at Vellore. The months that followed saw a flurry of activity initiated by Mr. & Mrs. Angelo’s agreement to conduct the TOT programme. In addition to convicts from Central Prison-II in Puzhal and Central Prison in Madurai, where the rehabilitation programme is already running, the Central Prisons at Coimbatore, Vellore and Trichy were also earmarked for the TOT programme. The District Legal Services Authority, Tiruvallur and the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA) came forward to sponsor the programme as well as coordinate with the Prison Department. PRISM recommended that 5 convicts from each of the 5 earmarked prisons be identified based on their educational qualification, aptitude and communication skills and good behaviour. The team at PRISM was pleasantly surprised to find that the District Legal Services Authority, Tiruvallur was so encouraged by the programme that they extended the scope to include the other Central Prisons at Palayamkottai, Cuddalore and Salem and consequently 5 members from each of these prisons were selected. The TOT programme now trains 40 convicts from all the Central Prisons in Tamil Nadu. The TOT programme was inaugurated on March 15th, 2020, at Central Prison-I, Puzhal, under the auspices of Hon’ble Mr. Justice P N Prakash. A Murugesan, DIG Prisons, gave the Welcome Address. Feliciations were given by Sunil Kumar Singh, DGP Prisons, K Ayyappan, Member of the High Court Committee, J Selvanadhan, PDJ Tiruvallur and K Rajasekar, Member Secretary TNSLSA. The vote of thanks was given by G Saraswati, Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Tiruvallur followed by the first session for the convicts, conducted by Mr. & Mrs. Angelo. The trainees were enthusiastic, responsive and eager to learn. The programme got off to a good start and is scheduled to finish on March 28th 2020.
Gandhian Principles at Madurai
Training on Gandhian principles commenced on 30th Jan 2020, at the Central Prison, Madurai as part of the rehabilitation program for first time petty offenders. The training was conducted by the Gandhi Museum, Madurai, and will be conducted once a week. In addition to life skills, it is important that first-time offenders understand and internalize the principles of non-violence.
Republic Day 2020 with the Chief Justice
PRISM was honoured to present the PATTAM programme to Hon’ble Thiru. Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Thiru C. Ve. Shanmugam, Minister of Law, Courts and Prisons, Hon’ble Thiru. Justice P.N. Prakash and Thiru. Abhash Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Crime. The programme started with an introduction to the PRISM trust by Senior Advocate Ravi Kumar Paul. The beneficiaries of the PATTAM programme from Central Prison, Puzhal then put on a brief skit to illustrate how the PATTAM programme has helped them change their lives. Police officials participated in the skit by playing themselves. Speeches by the dignitaries followed with Hon’ble Thiru. Justice Amreshwar Pratap Sahi mentioning that he attended 2 other functions that celebrated democracy in the free world and that this function celebrated democracy within prison walls. He added that this was his best function of the day.
Parthasarathy’s Story
22-year old Parthasarthy, a bartender by profession, got caught committing a petty crime. He was sent to prison. During his time, he attended the 10-day programme by PRISM. Once his remand period was over, he joined and stayed at the Trust Way Foundation, an addiction treatment centre. Now, Parathasarthy, a changed man, moved to a new city to start a new life. He started a job as a salesman in a textile shop. Due to his sincerity and his commitment to work hard, the owner of the textile shop promoted him to the role of Cashier. Parathasarthy is an inspiring example of how motivation creates a positive impact in one’s life.