On 10th January 2011, VARHAD organised the distribution of the government's 'Balsangopan Cheques.' with Mr. Sanjay Deshmukh, and Mr.Ajay Mendhe, both Probation Officers (Dist. women and child development department, Amravati ). All the families of prisoners turned up to receive the cheques of this government welfare scheme that has now reached them owing to extensive lobbying by VARHAD.

VARHAD now has under its umbrella, a group of local non-governmental organizations and CBOs (Community Based Organizations) to work in tandem with each other, towards the progress of marginalized youth and illiterate communities.

The community-based work developed by VARHAD is entirely supported and looked highly upon, by all the local communities.

We have a network of over twenty-five local NGOs and CBOs within the district of Amravati.

VARHAD provides technical support and capacity building for their effective functioning, to address various social issues, owing to its immense experience in the area of the (CJS) Criminal Justice System.

This network has a common pre- decided social work agenda apart from the agenda of each individual organization. It also addresses issues of vulnerable groups susceptible to criminal activities.

Some common agendas include making the common masses aware of their constitutional and legal rights and empowering them to access these rights through various mechanisms.

This network also involves itself in eradicating illiteracy, overall progress of rural and marginalized communities, by providing them a decent livelihood hand in hand with socially responsible corporate organizations. 

FOCUS AREAS

MITRA has already begun its operations by providing much needed vocational training at five marginalized slum areas, within the Amravati district. These vocational centers, enjoy full occupancy since its recent inauguration.

While employment would remain one of its major focuses, MITRA also plans to fiercely lobby for improved educational opportunities for deprived children. 

We want to increase awareness amongst the poor and marginalized population as regards their constitutional right to free, primary education (of good quality).

Right to Education is a fundamental and human right, and every child must have access to relevant education.

In today’s day and date, it is reasonable to assume, that being successful in the world is not possible without adequate written and spoken fluency in English.

Our plan is to bring attention to the colossal wastage of government resources in  running local Marathi, Urdu and even Hindi medium schools. We have statistics to prove that there are more than 60 municipal schools around Amravati, each of which have an occupancy rate of less than 25%.

For example, most state run schools have an average of approximately 26 classrooms per building, and a capacity to educate 5000 students at a time. The current scenario is that only 3-4 classrooms per school, are in use. This means that majority of the State funds are being allocated towards paying teachers salaries, and not towards reaching and teaching the maximum number of children.

The reason for these classrooms lying empty is that they do not offer good quality education in the English medium. Hence even under-privileged families (including domestic workers) struggle to send their wards to expensive private educational institutions.

The reason for the poorest of the poor seeking private institutions is their hope of improving the lives of their children, through access to the English language, which is regarded as the big ticket to success.

Municipal corporations at the Zilla Parishad or State level should provide quality education to all kids, so that their mothers who sometimes earn as little as 2000 per month doing domestic jobs, need not spend a significant chunk of their earnings on private institutions, for what is their fundamental right.

MITRA demands compulsory and free ‘English medium’ education for all children, in government aided schools, in accordance with the Right to Education Bill passed by the Indian Government, a few years ago.

One of MITRA main objectives includes the access of good quality education  those who cannot afford to pay for it. 

It aims to sensitize the masses, and make the government aware that while languages such as Urdu, Hindi, Marathi will continue to be taught in their schools, the major focus will be on changing the medium of instruction to English.

Immediate steps:

Besides lobbying for changes mentioned above, MITRA plans provide immediate access by partnering with the Municipal Corporation to provide high quality education. The aim is to immediately utilize the current wasted infrastructure at government run institutions, until further legislation is passed.

Yesterday was World Human Rights day. A little about our rights...

Access to Justice and Fair Treatment

The victim of a crime sets the criminal justice mechanism in motion, by giving information to the police which is expected to reduce it to writing. The victim as an informant is entitled to a copy of the FIR “forthwith, free of cost”. 

Where the officer in charge of a police station refuses to act upon such information, the victim can write to the Superintendent of the Police who is then expected to direct investigation into the complaint. Failing these mechanisms, the victim can give a complaint to a Magistrate, who will in turn examine the complainant on oath and enquire into the case herself or direct investigation by the police before taking cognizance.The victim thereafter does not participate in the investigation except by being called to confirm the identity of the accused or the material objects, if any, recovered during the course of investigation.

Source- Forthcoming in National Human Rights Commission Journal (2004) 

S. Muralidhan

Another News story about the work we do

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/times-of-india-the/mi_8012/is_20090709/kids-jail-inmates-prisoners-fate/ai_n39593014/

Our President speaks to TOI

Check our president Ravindra Vaidya's pertinent views in one of the latest stories on the inhuman state of prisons, in the Times of Indiahttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Panel-raps-cops-after-hawker-complains-of-hellish-lock-up/articleshow/6675297.cms

Noteworthy Achievements till date...

Noteworthy Achievements – In a nutshell

Some of VARHAD’s noteworthy triumphs, besides the ones mentioned above, include:

1) Education: The achievement of permission from the Municipal Corporation for teachers from the VARHAD team to formally educate prisoners from scratch and hold State Board Exams inside the prison until the 4th grade, for all categories of prisoners.

2) Rehabilitation: It is a proud achievement, that every reform and rehabilitation case handled by VARHAD has been a success.

Two outstanding COP (Children of Prisoners)  who completed their studies, thanks to our initiatives, have been placed with the IPS (Indian Police Services) and the Indian armed forces.

3) Policy level interpretation :

Last but most significant is the policy level change we have caused at a macro level. While providing benefits to children of prisoners, the state government was reluctant to consider these children as “needy of care and protection.” After considerable lobbying and advocacy for the cause of including the (COPs) Children of Prisoners as beneficiaries of government schemes, did the Government accept their inclusion.

At the moment, this policy change has happened within the state. We are now working at taking it to the national level.

4) Legal Aid ( PAROLE and FURLOUGH) - Until now 277 cases of Parole and 100 cases of Furlough in the region of Amravati have been enabled by the organisation.  Amravati central prison is the only prison in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra from where largest number of prisoners are being released on Parole and Furlough.

5) Research Work: Our research teams were approached by International organizations such as the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative to create a report titled “Condition of Sub Jails in the state of Maharashtra. This has been successfully published.

It is a huge achievement that as a result of the above published report, a writ petition was filed by CHRI in the Bombay High court.

So effective were the findings, that the court has appointed a committee to look into this matter and asked for our suggestions on the reforms proposed.

6) Media Successes: Our Youth Centre, or VYC has also produced a documentary – Rahuti based on the ‘Life of the Pardhi community,’ which has been featured at the National level!

7) Personality Development of Prisoners: VARHAD conducts classical music classes in prison for all categories of prisoners. The organization has motivated ABGM (Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyapeeth) to conduct classical music examinations for prisoners inside the prison premises itself!...

Male prisoners trained in Classical Music (training organized by VARHAD for prison inmates)  performing a classical music piece, at a Cultural Program held within prison

 To the pleasant surprise of all the members of VARHAD’s team most of the prisoners who displayed interest in music, trained until the Sangeet VISHARAD level (which is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Indian Classical Music ). This remarkable achievement makes the teachers of ABGM, the students themselves,  and all of us at VARHAD, very proud!

WE WORK WITH...

OUR TG - TARGET GROUP                 

There are three types of criminals:

I)               CRIMINALS BY PROFESSION OR HABITUAL OFFENDERS

a) VARHAD focuses on the reform of this group of offenders, as it is imperative for the unhindered progress of civil society. The organisation leaves no stone unturned to ensure that these criminals do not continue in the world of crime, post release from custody.

This involves the humungous task of training these individuals to earn their livelihood and lead a decent life in society.

b) It also involves legal representation and solving of money matters, as most of the times, habitual crimes are related to money.

II)              NON-CRIMINALS OR  FIRST TIME OFFENDERS.

          In most cases, these are victims of circumstance and those who are not tried by law.

a) For such groups, VARHAD focuses on reducing the impact of imprisonment, by involving them in various activities. It attempts to make the prison environment a positive experience via various literacy and cultural activities held within the prison itself.

b) VARHAD also pushes for the reduction of the time spent in prison for such prisoners, to prevent further criminalization.

(There are national statistics to prove that 72%, or 3/4^th of the prison population all over India are ‘under-trial.’  This, as per Indian law, renders them innocent until proven guilty)

a)     More importantly, VARHAD enables the under-trial prisoner to interact and support their families. This reduces the negative impact of imprisonment.

III)                COMPLETELY INNOCENT  PRISONERS

 These are victims of a faulty law enforcement system, where the innocent are accused and charged for crimes they have not committed.