18 Guwahati Central Jail inmates sit for exams

By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, July 9 – For 18 inmates of the Guwahati Central Jail, it was a never-before experience. The inmates – pursuing six-month courses under the KK Handique State Open University — sat for a two-day examination, marking probably the first time that such an exercise was held in a jail campus in the State. The inmates appeared in English, Mathematics, Social Science, Electronics and Advanced Mathematics. Those who appeared in Electronics and Advanced Mathematics intend to seek admission in Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) course. “The enthusiasm of the examinees was commendable, and they were confident that they did well. This could give them a new lease of life once they are out of jail,” Ankuran Dutta of the university who was also the officer-in-charge of the examination, told The Assam Tribune. The jail at present has 26 inmates pursuing courses, called bachelors’ preparatory programme (BPP) meant for non-10+2 jail inmates. Among those who appeared in the examination were several members of the militant outfit, ULFA. “The course is totally free of cost and includes all the study materials. Besides, we supply pen and paper to the examinees,” Dutta said, adding that gauging from the enthusiasm of the inmates they were expecting more students in the forthcoming admission. Dutta said that the classes, held twice a week, were taken by the university’s faculty. Prof Robin Goswami, former Head of the Department of English, Cotton College, is the senior consultant. “The weekly classes apart, we also hold special classes,” he added. Dutta said that the university had plans to reach out to other jails in a phased manner. “Going by the positive response we are having in the Guwahati Central jail, we would love to have study centres in all the jails of the State. We plan to proceed in a phased manner,” he said. source: assam tribune