For the first time, two children of women convicts living with their mothers in the Model Jail here have been sent to a School in Mohali for formal education.
The two kids, Varun (four-and-half-year-old) and Daksh (two-year-old), of woman jail inmates, who are presently serving their life imprisonment at Burail Jail for murder charges, were sent to school on Monday. Varun is the son of a convict undergoing life imprisonment and Daksh is the son of an undertrial. Another child, Reeta (four-and-half-years old), will also be sent to school, once her mother is back from parole.
“All the three children of jail inmates have been admitted to Shemrock Senior Secondary School of Sector-69 at Mohali. The school authorities have agreed to bear all the expenses. The stationary and pick-and-drop facility by school bus will be paid by the Burail Jail authorities. The jail authorities will also pay for the school uniforms, books, play equipment etc”, said AS Cheema, IG Prisons, Mode Jail, Burail.
The women inmates are allowed to keep their children with them in prison till the child attains the age of six years. At present, three children are residing with their mothers in the prison of which two are above three years of age.
By the time both the children are six-years-old, they will have to leave the prison. The school authorities have also agreed to bear their hostel fee, added Cheema.
“Education is compulsory for everyone and a child cannot be deprived of it just because they are staying in prison along with their mothers. The children are inside the prison with their mothers and the prison administration is trying their best to provide them facilities like nutritious diet, proper clothing, bedding, toys, recreation facility and health facilities”, added Cheema.
Seeing their children going to school, the mothers of Varun and Daksh, said they never thought that jail authorities would take such a noble step for the education of their children.
“I always had a remorse that my son has to stay in the jail because of my offence. However, I am very happy that the jail authorities have admitted my son to school for education,” said mother
of Varun.
“My son always wanted to be a police officer. It was like a dream come true for him as he heard that he will be able to get educated in such a good school. Since Saturday, he had been praying to god that the weather should be clear, so that he could go to school on Monday,” added Varun’s mother.