National Times Bureau :- In a landmark move aimed at transforming Punjab’s correctional system, the state government—along with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Department of Prisons, and the Department of Technical Education—will launch a major rehabilitation initiative titled “Transforming Lives Behind Bars: A New Vision for Restorative Justice” on December 6, 2025, at Central Jail, Patiala. The programme will be inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, in the presence of judges from the Supreme Court and High Court, along with senior government officials.
The initiative seeks to convert Punjab’s prisons into centres of learning and vocational growth. Backed by the Punjab Skill Development Mission, all 24 jails in the state will collectively train 2,500 inmates through nationally recognised skill-based programmes. As part of this reform, 11 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will be established within the prisons. These ITIs will offer NCVT-certified long-term courses in trades such as welding, electrician work, plumbing, sewing technology, cosmetology, COPA, and bakery. Additionally, short-term NSQF-aligned courses will be introduced in tailoring, jute and bag making, bakery, plumbing, mushroom cultivation, computer hardware, and other employable skills.
Training will be delivered through certified faculty, modern workshops, and a structured curriculum. Inmates undergoing these programmes will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,000 along with NCVET/NSQF certification. Existing prison factories that teach carpentry, welding, tailoring, bakery, and fabrication will further enhance hands-on learning.
The reform plan also emphasises reintegration after release. Government ITIs will support continued training, while District Bureaus of Employment and Enterprises will provide placement assistance. Inmates will also be supported through MSME schemes, counselling, and good conduct certificates to help them transition into productive livelihoods.
Alongside this major reform, Punjab’s prisons are witnessing other structural upgrades, including petrol pumps in nine jails, sports and yoga programmes, the Prison Inmate Calling System (PICS), community radio “Radio Ujala,” and expanded avenues for creative expression.
On the same day, the Punjab State Legal Services Authority will launch a month-long anti-drug awareness campaign titled “Youth Against Drugs,” also inaugurated by the Chief Justice of India. Running from December 6, 2025, to January 6, 2026, the campaign aims to mobilise communities across the state to combat substance abuse through awareness, legal literacy, and rehabilitation outreach.
These initiatives reinforce the High Court’s commitment to restorative justice, dignity, and safer communities. Punjab’s prisons are being reshaped not just as places of confinement, but as institutions that offer inmates a real chance at rebuilding their lives.
