Women inmates of the Dum Dum Correctional Home here will now take part in training classes of art and painting.
The project, initiated by Rakshak Foundation with the support of Directorate of Correctional Services, West Bengal, was launched at the Correctional Home premises today.
"From today we launched a new initiative of conducting training classes in art and painting for enthusiastic inmates, who have the skill. The project has been especially structured and targeted to help women inmates who are also mothers of little children," Managing Trustee of Rakshak Foundation Chaitali Das told PTI.
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Ten women inmates have been selected for the project as of now.
"We believe that this initiative, to be conducted under 'Shrishti Rakshak' endeavour, will train, coach and engage female inmates enabling them to channelise their imagination through work of art including painting," she said.
"We plan to showcase their talent at a show in December this year," she said.
"As children up to the age of 6 years are allowed to stay with their mothers within the Correctional Home, this initiative will involve the little ones as well. We hope that they will enjoy being involved in creative activities like painting along with their mothers," she said.
Eminent painter Subhaprasanna, who was present, promised to organise a exhibition of selected paintings of the inmates at an art gallery in future to showcase their works.
The inmates also drew pastel sketches at a workshop, one of which showed a bird emerging free from the cages.
IGP, Correctional Services, Arun Kumar Gupta lauded the effort of the NGO, Rakshak Foundation to rehabilitate the prisoners in different projects.
"The correctional home authorities believe these inmates should be given a chance to lead a new life," Gupta said.
In the previous initiative by the foundation, 15 inmates of Dumdum Correctional Home weaved jute accessories and garments under 'Jute Story Beyond the Bars' project.
Their products were also put on sale at select outlets before the Durga Puja and got a very good response.
The purpose is to boost the self-esteem, impart skills, livelihood options by these real craftsmen, she said.
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