Whispers of reform echo within these walls. We are standing before Tihar Prisons. Known as Tihar Jail, it is one of India’s largest prison complexes. Spread over 400 acres, Tihar houses nine central prisons. It’s a city within a city, a world of its own.
Tihar’s story began in 1957. It was initially a maximum-security prison. Punjab ran it then. In 1966, control shifted to Delhi. Additional facilities were built from 1984. The complex became Tihar Prison.
But Tihar is more than just a jail. It strives to be a correctional institution. Its goal is to reintegrate inmates into society. The prison wants to equip them with skills, education, and respect for the law. Tihar aims to boost inmates’ self-esteem. It seeks to strengthen their desire for a better life.
How does Tihar achieve this? Through various programs. Music therapy fills the air with melody and rhythm. Inmates receive music training and perform concerts. Tihar even has its own radio station run by inmates. Imagine the stories broadcast from within these walls.
A prison industry thrives here. Inmates fully man it. It operates under the brand Tihar. They produce goods ranging from carpentry to handmade paper. As of December 2023, Tihar held 14059 inmates. Its sanctioned capacity is only 5200.
IPS officer Kiran Bedi brought significant reforms when she was Inspector General. She renamed it Tihar Ashram. Bedi introduced Vipassana meditation for staff and inmates. S. N. Goenka taught the initial classes. An inmate even passed the UPSC civil service exams. Many inmates pursue higher education through distance learning.
In 2011, Tihar launched a campus placement program. It helps rehabilitate inmates nearing the end of their sentences. In 2014, a recruitment drive led to 66 inmates getting job offers. They earned salaries up to 35000 Rupees per month. Educational institutions, NGOs, and private companies recruited them.
The Jail Factory started in 1961. It includes carpentry, weaving, tailoring, and baking. In 2009, a shoe manufacturing unit began. It used a Public-Private Partnership model. The brand TJ’s was born. Inmates earn money and 25% of their earnings go to the Victim Welfare Fund.
Numerous notable figures have been prisoners in Tihar. These include politicians and criminals. Abhijit Banerjee, a Nobel laureate, was once held here. Sanjay Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Subrata Roy have also been inmates. Charles Sobhraj, the serial killer, even escaped from Tihar. He was recaptured and returned.
Tihar has faced escapes. Sher Singh Rana, Phoolan Devi’s murderer, escaped in 2004. Two prisoners escaped through a tunnel in 2015.
Tihar’s story extends beyond its walls. It is a place of reform. It is a place of rehabilitation. It is a place of hope. It reflects the complexities of justice and human potential.