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January 25, 2025 prismchennaiindia@gmail.com No Comments

PAATHAI – Training for OH Kellys Staff

On January 25th, 2025, a comprehensive one-day training program was conducted for the operational staff of the Observation Home (OH) as part of the PAATHAI project. The primary objective was to equip staff with a clear understanding of the project’s mission, their role, and effective rehabilitation strategies for children in conflict with the law. The event commenced with an inaugural session attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. Senthil (Regional Probation Officer), Mrs. Glory (Superintendent of the OH), and Mr. Ravi Kumar Paul (Founder of PRISM). They emphasized the importance of collaboration between OH staff and the PAATHAI team, highlighting the need for a structured rehabilitation process that fosters a reformative, rather than punitive approach. The morning sessions featured engaging activities and session  focusing on PAATHAI programme model, Understanding the reformative approach by Mr. Immanuel Angelo and juvenile psychology by Prof. D. Beulah Emmanuel provided staff with a deeper understanding of adolescent behaviour, reinforcing the importance of empathy, trust-building, and positive reinforcement in their interactions with children. In the afternoon, a session led by Mrs. Thirumagal encouraged OH staff to actively assess the PAATHAI project’s impact through group discussions and presentations. Participants analyzed the strengths and challenges of the project, provided valuable feedback on rehabilitation, reintegration, and reformation strategies. The last session was on work skills needed to handle juvenile which helped to equip themselves better.

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November 25, 2023 prismchennaiindia@gmail.com No Comments

Sports Training at Salem

On November 23, 2023, a Sports Training Program was conducted for PATTAM coordinators from all Central Prisons of Tamil Nadu at IGL – Salem. The training program marks a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of excellence. It goes beyond sports, impacting the entirety of life. It encompasses the mental fortitude, emotional resilience, and the holistic well-being of every individual. This training is crucial in empowering coordinators to identify, understand, and address the psychological pressures faced by offenders, using special games and activities. The sessions, mainly focused on the insights, strategies, and tools aimed at enhancing not only athletic performance but also fostering personal development and well-being of the Young Petty First Time offenders. The four sessions were on the Whole Life Coaching (What & Why), Stages of learning through games, Heart of a Coach / Sports trainer and Practical applications. Participants expressed that this training equips them with valuable skills, enhancing their professionalism in the field of sports which is an attention and attraction-seeking event inside the prison. Trainers Mr. Sunil Moses and Mr. Sarath, invited from the Life Sports Academy, led the sessions. Mr. Bharathi Doss, the PATTAM Project Executive in Salem, effectively coordinated the training.

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October 19, 2023 prismchennaiindia@gmail.com No Comments

Training for Social Defence Staff at Chennai, Madurai and Vellore

PRISM received approval from the Social Defence Department to train all the staff members at the Observation Home for Boys in Chennai and Madurai, and the Place of Safety in Vellore. The primary objective of this initiative was to acquaint the staff with the PATTAM program and inculcate the necessary focus for the reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of the boys. This training is designed to motivate the staff to create a positive and conducive environment for these troubled youngsters. The training was conducted as follows: 14th September 2023 at Observation Home, Kellys, Chennai 5th October 2023 at Observation Home, Madurai 6th October 2023 at Place of Safety, Vellore The inauguration and certificate distribution for the participants were attended by key stakeholders, including Ms. Lakshmi, the JJ Board Magistrate for Chennai, and Mr. Raj Kumar JJ Member, and Mr. Sanju, DCPO of Vellore. Mr. Ravi Kumar Paul presided over the training sessions in both Chennai and Vellore. 79 Staff from these three places received training on the topic of “Aspects of Reformation and its Implementation.” A team of experts from PRISM served as trainers and provided training to the staff, covering the concept of reformation and the development of essential workplace skills. Many expressed the desire to have similar training sessions held quarterly or once every six months to enhance their skills and knowledge in their respective fields. They also shared that their understanding of juvenile and adolescent rehabilitation had significantly improved after attending this training. Senior Trainer Emmanuel Angelo at OH, Kellys Certificate distribution at POS Special Guest Mr. Sanju – District Child Protection Officer Participants at Place of Safety, Vellore Ms. Uma Mageshwari, Superintendent – Vellore – Topic Aspects of Reformation. Lawrance, PRISM Trainer Special Address from Ravi Kumar Paul at POS Vellore Senior Trainer, Emmanuel Angelo at Place of Safety, Vellore OH Kellys Staff Ms. Mohanapriya, Psychologist – Topic Juvenile Psychology – Madurai OH Mrs. Lakshmi, Principal Magistrate JJ Board, Kellys during Inauguration of Staff Training Mr. Nirmal, PRISM Trainer at OH, Madurai OH Madurai Staff Dr. Beulah – OH Kellys Training Special Address by Ravi Kumar Paul at OH, Kellys Place of Safety – Group Discussion OH Kellys Staff during Group work presentation

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September 26, 2023 prismchennaiindia@gmail.com No Comments

Legal awareness program at Trichy

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) provides free and competent legal aid in the form of counseling and legal advice, as well as free legal services for cases presented in court. DLSA Advocates can be approached for assistance with any case, and their services are available to everyone. DLSA legal services are provided at no cost and aim to ensure justice for all. The Advocates assist prisoners by contacting their families and following up on their cases. Prisoners can seek help from various legal services and authorities within the prison, including the Welfare Officer, Psychologist, and Jailor, to assert their rights and receive support when needed. Legal aid services provided by DLSA Advocates are available in the prison every day.  The awareness program, organized by PRISM, was conducted on 26-09-2023 at the Trichy Prison.  The program served to clarify prisoners’ doubts about their cases and also collect contact information for the families of a few prisoners to provide them with assistance. These sorts of awareness campaigns are conducted for the welfare of the prisoners to utilize, to the maximum, the provisions under our judiciary system.

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October 11, 2020 PRISM No Comments

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.

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March 27, 2020 PRISM No Comments

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.

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March 20, 2020 PRISM No Comments

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.

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February 27, 2020 PRISM No Comments

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.

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