Patna: Beur Jail, infamous for the unruly behaviour of its inmates, can hope to get an image make-over soon with the Nalanda Open University opening its study centre in the premises.

The inmates have shown tremendous response towards professional courses, particularly computer sciences and para-medical courses, University s Registrar S P Sinha, who played a pioneering role in opening the centre, told PTI.

Sinha said the centre was the result of a joint endeavour by the University and the jail adminsitration, particularly, I G (Prisons) Sandeep Paundrik.

"The whole idea is to impart job-oriented education to the inmates of the jail, where some of them are involved in clandestine criminal activity, so that they can begin a dignified life and make positive contribution to the society once out of prison," Paundrik said.

He said the idea to open a study centre was born when during a routine visit to the jail some inmates expressed their deisre to pursue education.

The distance learning university has offered all the 91 courses being run by it to the jail inmates free of cost, its Registrar Sinha said.

The pupils of the study centre, which was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor V S Dubey on July 25,will not have to pay a penny for any regular course like Intermediate, B. A, M. A or vocational courses like Para-Medical for which the University normally charges Rs 1200, Rs 1500, Rs 2500 and Rs 4000 respectively.

Prisoners will, however, have to pay a token money of Rs 10 for admission form, which otherwise costs Rs 150 per form. 
Source : PTI