As homes across the NCR get ready for Diwali, one set of hampers from last year is worth revisiting. In October 2025, Meher Gupta, a Grade 12 student at Step by Step School, Noida, led a livelihood project inside Faridabad District Jail. She worked with India Vision Foundation (IVF) to train more than 100 inmates in traditional crafts. Together they produced over 250 earth-themed Diwali hampers.
IVF was set up by Dr. Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer, along with her parents. It runs five core programmes in 172 prisons across 16 states and two Union Territories, and has reached more than 27 lakh beneficiaries.
From internship to project
Meher first approached IVF with a concept note for a livelihood venture for formerly incarcerated women. She asked for an internship so she could learn how the Foundation worked. She spent approximately 5 months at its headquarters since June 2025, asking how permissions move through a jail administration. She was curious about why rehabilitation efforts often collapse within six months of release.
IVF’s team told her its strongest reach was with people still in prison. Post this observation, Meher reshaped her plan, the result of which was Phoenix Creations.
She chose Diwali as the anchor. “A festival does not move,” Meher said. “That helped us plan backwards from the date, fix the workshops around it and hold ourselves to a standard. It gave the project a shape from the first day.”
Inside the jail
Participants’ existing skills were mapped before any product was chosen. Crafts were picked for low equipment needs and short learning curves. Sessions on digital and financial literacy ran alongside the craft training.
A design partner came on board and seven workshops were held. About Rs 2.5 lakh was raised for materials, training and participant incentives. The hampers held candles, diyas, crochet work, bandhanwars and baked goods. Meher designed the branding, packaging and cards. She also managed procurement, quality control and scheduling around the jail’s routine.
Noise, long waits and sudden withdrawals of permission were common. Sessions were cut short more than once. Meher took each setback in her stride.
“Meher learned every participant’s name. She asked what they wanted to make before she told anyone what to produce. Inmates who have spent years being processed rather than consulted notice that difference at once, and they respond to her,” said Ms. Monica Dhawan, Director, India Vision Foundation.
The question that stayed
The hampers went through IVF’s network to senior government and judicial stakeholders. Several participants then asked whether the project would continue. A year later, that question still matters. Skills built for one festival need somewhere to go once the lamps are packed away.
[Add here anything that has happened since: a second edition, participants’ continued work, or IVF’s plans.]
IVF has recognised Meher as a Youth Ambassador for her contribution to social good, in line with its #SaveTheNextVictim vision.