Women inmates set up FM radio centre in Byculla women's prison premises, inaugural episode airs

The women inmates lodged at the Byculla women’s prison have set up an FM radio centre in the prison premises with the help of jail authority. The inaugural episode of the FM radio was also aired this week, which was an interview of none other than Maharashtra prison department chief Amitabh Gupta. He was interviewed by inmate Shraddha Chougule on Friday.

During the interview, Gupta discussed facilities being currently provided to prisoners at various jails. He also talked about facilities that the department plans to provide to prisoners in the future, keeping in mind their human rights.

Women inmates will be trained as radio jockeys at the centre, says police official

A police official said that the initiative not only aims to provide entertainment to the inmates but also help them reform through devotional and spiritual programmes. Additionally, the radio will also help in up-skilling some of them with the knowledge of radio broadcast.

According to the official, such facilities of FM radio centers already exist in prisons including Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail, Nagpur Central Jail, Amravati Central Jail and Kolhapur Central Jail. However, with the inauguration of a radio set up at Byculla women’s prison marks the first ever such facility for women inmates.

“There is always a sense of uneasiness in the mind of every person who enters a prison. Additionally, thoughts about one’s family, future and case, create a negative feeling in the minds of the inmates. Keeping these aspects, the FM radio centre was started at the Byculla women’s jail to guide the inmates towards positivity,” news agency PTI quoted an official.

The further added, “Here, women inmates will work as radio jockeys. Devotional songs, bhajans and spiritual programmes will be presented through this FM radio centre. Even songs will be played on demand.”

Sources claim that the women inmates will also be trained as radio jockeys at the centre, so that they gain skills for employment in future after their release from prison.