Himalaya signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh Prisons Department

(L-R) B Sunil Kumar, Inspector General of Prisons, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Dr Babu, Head – Phytochemistry – R&D, The Himalaya Drug Company

The Himalaya Drug Company has extended its existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Prison Rehabilitation, Government of Andhra Pradesh to expand its Prisoner’s Rehabilitation Programme to Central Prison, Visakhapatnam. Under this programme Himalaya imparts Inmate Skills Development (ISD) training to the prison inmates’ to help them to join the mainstream society once they complete their jail term.

The MoU addendum was signed by B Sunil Kumar, Inspector General of Prisons, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Dr Babu, Head – Phytochemistry – R&D, The Himalaya Drug Company.

As per the provisions of the MoU, Himalaya along with jail authorities will give training to the prisoners for cultivating medicinal plants. Subsequent to the training, they will undertake the project of cultivation of medicinal plants for Himalaya at the Visakhapatnam Semi Open Prison. Inmates of the prison will be earning a regular monthly income and acquiring essential skills in the process. Apart from training the prisoners, Himalaya will also supply seeds and provide technical assistance. To begin, the inmates will cultivate Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) and drum stick (Moringa Oleifera). The plants were selected based on their suitability to the nature, climatic conditions and soil characters. The Government authorities will provide the infrastructure-irrigation facilities, electricity supply, as well as farming implements.

Speaking on the occasion, Babu said, “We have received tremendous response from our Prison Farm in Prisoners’ Agricultural Colony, Anantapur and we are glad to extend this programme to Central Prison, Visakhapatnam. I would also like to thank Andhra Pradesh prison department for allowing us to contribute towards their Prison Rehabilitation Programme. Today, such programmes are quite imperative for the overall growth of the society and we are proud to be a part of one. In future we are looking at expansion of such programmes to other part of the state and the country for a more holistic growth.”

Currently a similar project is underway in Anantapur open prison farm, Andhra Pradesh and has achieved a huge success. The positive acceptance of this project and the success achieved, has paved way to replicate this model in Visakhapatnam prison as well.

Sunil Kumar said, “We believe everyone should a get second chance in their life. This initiative in collaboration with The Himalaya Drug Company will offer the inmates a second chance to rebuild their social lives. Under this programme we will be equipping the prisoners with basic skills that will open up avenues for employment, once they have served their sentences.”

EP News Bureau – Mumbai