More than four lakh students became matriculates in Odisha this year but efforts of 116 of them need a special mention. They passed the examination when their fathers were cooling their heels in different jails in the State as convicts or under trial prisoners.
Thanks to John Augustus Prison and Social Welfare Services of Athgarh subdivision of this district, 238 Class 10 students, whose fathers are in prisons, were provided with books and other essentials. “Around 200 of them appeared in the examinations (both annual and supplementary) and 116 passed,” informed the NGO’s founder president P K Choudhury.
Mr Choudhury said his organisation last year went around all the five circle jails, eight district jails, two special sub jails, 10 sub jails and two special jails, including the open air jail at Jamujhori to prepare a list of children of the prisoners eligible to appear the matriculation examination this year.
“Since the State government waived the examination fees, we provided them with books and other study materials and made them ready to sit for the examinations,” he said, adding that his organisation is also providing study materials to other children of the prisoners, so that they do not feel let down because their family’s breadwinner is in jail.
Mr Choudhury has a special word of compliment for Sangeeta Harijan of Koraput district who passed the examination in flying colours. “Sangeeta’s father Minu Harijan went to jail when she was only two months old. Minu was arrested and later convicted for killing his mother-in-law after his wife eloped with another man of the neighbourhood. Minu is currently lodged in Kotpad sub jail,” he said.
“A retired government official of Cuttack city has come forward to bear the costs of Sangeeta’s higher education; she has taken admission in Plus II classes in Kotpad junior college,” Mr Choudhury said, adding that many such children of prisoners are now wishing to pursue higher studies after passing the matriculation examination successfully.
Another girl, Iswari Sahu of Titlagarh, whose father Laxman Sahu is serving a life term on murder charge in the sub jail, also cleared the examination in B1 grade securing more than 72 per cent marks, Mr Choudhury said.
Besides distributing books to the children of prisoners, the organisation is supplying at least one postcard every month to all jail inmates so that they could keep in touch with their family members, Mr Choudhury, a former jail probationary officer, said.
116 pass Class 10 exam. while their fathers are in jail
Govt. waived fees; an NGO gave them books and study material
