In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, 18 convicts serving life sentence at high security Tihar prison here were sent to a yoga a meditation centre in Hardwar on a 14-day furlough granted t
In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, 18 convicts serving life sentence at high security Tihar prison here were sent to a yoga a meditation centre in Hardwar on a 14-day furlough granted to them by jail authorities.
The 18 convicts serving sentence for heinous crimes like murder and rape are behind the bars for 10 years and were totally cut off from the life outside jail. Several convicts who participated in the yoga and meditation session, organised by Panchwati Yogashram in Hardwar, claimed positive changes in their thinking and views about life.
“It felt nice to be there and participate in Yoga and other rituals in company of the saints of Yogashram. I can feel a change within,” said Soni-pat resident Umed Singh lodged in Tihar in a rape case.
The prisoners accompanied by two jail officials had gone to Hardwar on September 21 returned on Tuesday to Tihar.
“Nobody visited me in jail and I felt restless. The exposure to yoga and other rituals had a positive effect on me. Earlier, I felt it was simply a tour but now I can realise the deep impact of this journey.”
The rupantaran yatra (transformation journey) was planned with the help of Panchwati Ashram’s Ashutosh Maharaj 4-5 months ago to help the prisoners lodged for long in Tihar and whose outside connections were severed as no one visited them, said director general of prison Sudhir Yadav.
“It may be unbelievable but it is true that there are a number of prisoners in Tihar Jail who have never been visited by anyone, be it their relatives, friends or other acquaintances.”
These convicts are imprisoned for over a decade. Prisoners with good conduct during their jail term, must be given every possible opportunity to reform themselves so that they could integrate with the society, once they are released on completing their term.”
A total of 25 applications were received from prisoners and 18 were found eligible for grant of furlough. These 18 prisoners went to Chetan Jyoti Ashram in Hardwar where they followed a routine including Yoga, meditation as well as sight seeing.
