Playing like true professionals, inmates of four Punjab-based prisons showcased their strength and talent at an Olympic-style games festival organised here.
Calling them 'Jail Olympics of 2013', Additional General of Police R. P. Mina said the games were aimed at reforming the prisoners.
"The main purpose of the games is to bring a change in the mindset of these people. Today prisons are not just prisons,they have become learning centres now. We want them to feel positive in life and focus on keeping away from bad habits like addiction. We also want them to remain healthy," said Mina.
Mina also mentioned that the prisoners practiced very hard for the games and their diet and health were looked after by the jail superindent.
The Central Jail of Ludhiana hosted the games. Its prisoners, along with prisoners from the jails of Patiala, Bhatinda and Amritsar participated and the whole atmosphere was extremely vibrant. The games were inaugurated by Mina and were conducted in the traditional manner with an inaugural march past by participating teams of the four prisons.
The prisoners were very excited and filled with vigour. The officers of the respective jails cheered loudly and enthusiastically when they saw the prisoners playing.
A prisoner from Patiala jail, Roop Chand, said that the games were a learning experience and inmates would give up their addictions and start playing games which they were beginning to enjoy.
"These games give a message of leaving addiction and playing .This way everyone is eager to play the games,"said Roop Chand.
At least 120 prisoners participated in the games of volleyball, kabbadi, khokho and tug- of- war. The winners were honoured with medals and the biggest prize was that the prisoner declared the best sportsman would be pardoned for 60 days. This means that the prisoner would be allowed to go on leave for a period of 60 days.
These games are the first of their kind and have been introduced from this year.
The Government of Punjab brought prisoners from four zones, namely the prisons of Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Bhatinda for the highly successful Jail Olympics of 2013.
