Telangana State Prisons Department conducts Job Fair for released prisoners

Warangal: Breathing freedom, outside the barracks of Warangal Central Jail, where they had served a prison term, there stood a couple of hundreds of ex-convicts waiting to enroll their names to snatch a job for a dignified living. As humans, they too made bad choices in their life and paid price for it. They need an opportunity to bounce back in life. 

Thanks to the Telangana State Prisons Department’s (TSPD) initiative – Job Fair - that aimed at providing a second chance for a better life for the ex-prisoners.

For the first time in Warangal, the Prisons Department has come up with a Job Fair for the released prisoners to assist them settle in life and lead a respectable life. Even though the ex-prisoners are on the lookout for employment, it’s not all that easy to get a job.

It’s apparent that the employers rarely come forward to employ the former offenders fearing reputation of their company. The companies opine that their other staff and customers will be uncomfortable if they employ an ex-offender.

Against this backdrop, a host of reputed companies such as Yamaha, Suzuki, Swiggy, SBI Life, Asian Paints, Aqua Guard etc. have come forward due to the efforts of the Prisons Department.

The Prisons Department, which set up an ‘After-care Service’ unit with an official for each district to observe the movements of the ex-offenders, prepare the data of the unemployed among them. The officials informed these ex-prisoners about the Job Fair. Around 200 ex-convicts including women attended with their credentials here on Monday.

Speaking to The Hans India, Jail Superintendent N Murali Babu said: “As many as 79 ex-prisoners including about 10 women have got jobs on the day. We will keep a continuous tab on these ex-offenders, who got jobs on this day to create a sense of confidence among the employers. Our aim is to keep the ex-convicts occupied so that they don’t revert to criminal activity in the life.”

“It’s a huge opportunity for me after what appeared like closed doors in life. The Prisons Department’s initiative has come like a boon for me. Ex-convicts seldom get employment of choice,” an ex-prisoner, who got a job, said.