From our Correspondent
MANGALDAI, June 12: The Krish Kanta Handique State Open University (KKHSOU) in a unique initiative to offer the opportunity to the inmates of Mangaldai District Jail here in Darrang district to pursue their incomplete higher education, that too at the free of cost, on Sunday iugurated the study centre in Mangaldai Jail.
The KKHSOU, in collaboration with Brilliant Academy, a premier private academic institute of excellence of Mangaldai, has taken up the initiative to start the study centre. Vice Chancellor of KKHSOU, Dr. Hitesh Deka, Inspector General of Prisons-cum-Additiol Director General of Police, Jyotirmoy Chakraborty, District and Sessions Judge Gautam Barua, Mangaldai legislator Guru Jyoti Das and a number of intellectuals, officials of the district administration and police, officials of the jail and a section of media persons took part in the iugural function inside the jail complex along with the inmates of Mangaldai Jail. The invited guests also lit a lamp to mark the iuguration of the study centre.
Addressing a well-attended function inside the barrack of the jail presided over by District and Sessions Judge Gautam Barua, Vice Chancellor Dr. Hitesh Deka highlighted the unique initiative taken up by the KKHSOU for the first time in the jails of Assam. “We already have set up four study centres exclusively for the jail inmates in Guwahati, Jorhat, Biswath Chariali and Abhayapuri and Mangaldai is the fifth of its kind in the State. At present a total of 337 number of study centres are functioning in the State under KKHSOU. We are taking up the matter with Inspector General of Prisons for setting up study centres in all the jails of the State so that the under trial prisoners (UTP) and the convicts can continue their higher studies through the Bachelor Preparation Program. Any illegible convicts or UTP will be able to take direct admission into the degree course under KKHSOU,” said Dr. Hitesh Deka.
Inspector General of Prisons Jyotirmoy Chakraborty in his iugural speech appreciated the initiative of the KKHSOU for coming forward with a unique step towards the inmates of the jail who are often neglected by the mainstream society. He also appealed the staff of the jail to join the study centre to complete their higher education. Taking part in iugural function, newly elected BJP legislator of Mangaldai, Guru Jyoti Das appreciated the joint initiative of the KKHSOU, jail authority and Brilliant Academy for the mental and academic uplift of the inmates of the jail. On being apprised of the problems being faced by the inmates of the jail, Das assured to take initiative for providing potable iron free drinking water to the inmates of the jail. Registrar of KKHSOU, Rajat Baran Mahanta in his speech highlighted the significance of the course of the KKHSOU in details. Banda Saikia, a teacher of repute, also spoke at the function.
Additiol Deputy Commissioners Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati and ra rayan th, Additiol Superintendent of Police Suman Chakraborty, Superintendent of District Jail Jon Dev Choudhury, Jailor AK Sarma, Principal of Brilliant Academy Jamu Saharia Kalita and resource person Manoj Sarma also took part in the function anchored by Medical Officer of the jail, Dr Dibya Jyoti Rajmedhi. The iuguration programme was marked by a street play performed by the convicts who also presented a chorus composed by a convict.