top of page
Search

Vocational Training in Nagpur and Amravati Prisons Helps Inmates Build Skills for Life After Release

Vocational Training in Nagpur and Amravati Prisons Helps Inmates Build Skills for Life After Release
Vocational Training in Nagpur and Amravati Prisons Helps Inmates Build Skills for Life After Release

Inside the walls of two correctional facilities in Vidarbha, a different kind of routine has started taking shape.


Between fixed schedules and institutional rules, some prisoners now spend their days learning practical trades, attending certified workshops, or preparing goods meant for sale outside.


What unfolds each day is neither part of punishment nor a temporary programme, it is part of a larger structure aimed at something else.



Inside the Training Units of Nagpur Central Prison


Nagpur Central Prison currently houses approximately 2,836 inmates, including 107 women.


The prison has been selected for large-scale vocational training in collaboration with the Department of Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship.

These programmes operate under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), which offers close to 3,000 courses. In Nagpur, these courses include carpentry, handloom, data entry, and Tally accounting software.



The training is not generalised. Inmates undergo counselling sessions to assess their interests and aptitudes before being assigned to a course. Once training is completed, certificates are issued under the “Recognition of Prior Learning” programme, which is recognised nationally and is meant to assist in post-release employment.


Currently, around 75 women inmates are enrolled. Prison authorities have stated that the same structure will be extended to the male inmate population.

Inmate-made goods are already being sold. Items such as handcrafted Rakhis and similar products have generated over ₹1.50 lakh in sales. There are plans underway to establish formal outlets and stalls so that these products can reach a wider public.


A sanitary napkin manufacturing unit was introduced in 2018 within the same facility by Tata Trusts. Fifteen women were trained in sanitary pad production. This programme was designed to address both skill-building and awareness of menstrual hygiene.

The Maharashtra Arthik Vikas Mahamandal supports these efforts by offering financial assistance. Women who complete training can apply for loans after their release to start small businesses.


In 2023, a total of 145 inmates across nine prisons in Maharashtra, including Nagpur, received sentence reductions after completing vocational and educational programmes.

These reductions were awarded as part of an official policy recognising the rehabilitative potential of such efforts.



Skill Building Inside Amravati’s Open Jails

Skill Building Inside Amravati’s Open Jails
Skill Building Inside Amravati’s Open Jails

Amravati’s correctional model relies on open jails, with 1,512 male and 100 female inmates spread across 19 units.


Inmates selected from overcrowded jails are transferred here to participate in vocational training. The objective is to reduce congestion and create opportunities for post-release income generation.

The training in Amravati’s jails focuses on trades considered viable in rural economies. Inmates are trained in agriculture, tailoring, carpentry, vehicle repair, and mobile phone servicing.


These trades are selected based on local employability conditions, particularly in the districts that most inmates will return to.


Under the direction of Additional Director General (Prisons) Amitabh Gupta, the programme aims to instil consistent work habits while maintaining a semi-autonomous prison environment.



The open jail system allows inmates more freedom of movement than conventional high-security facilities, which makes it possible to simulate aspects of daily life outside.

Though implementation specifics are not fully detailed, the participation of Amravati in the state-wide initiative ensures access to the same training models being used elsewhere.

Daily work schedules are enforced. The sessions are held in supervised environments.


The materials used are standardised. There are no formal outlets for goods yet on the scale of Nagpur, but the training structure remains the same.


National Studies and Internal Outcomes


Vocational training programmes in prisons have been evaluated across various contexts. A 2013 study conducted by the RAND Corporation found that inmates who participated in vocational or educational programmes had a 43 percent lower chance of returning to prison.


The study also found a 13 percent higher probability of securing employment after release.

Another assessment by the National Institute of Justice found vocational training to be a promising intervention.


The data suggested that such programmes improved the likelihood of employment by 28 percent when compared to inmates who did not undergo any training.


In Nagpur, this aligns with internal developments. Certificates are issued. Products are sold. Support in the form of post-release loans has been formalised. Tata Trusts continues to support the sanitary pad manufacturing initiative.


The Maharashtra Arthik Vikas Mahamandal continues to facilitate loans for women. Sentence reductions have been implemented where training completion was proven.


Amravati’s emphasis remains fixed on practical trades linked to the rural economy. Courses in agriculture and trades requiring minimal infrastructure dominate the schedule.


There is no available data on employment outcomes, but selection and training continue based on state prison department policy.


Limits and Challenges Beyond the Gate


A 2018 article in the Economic and Political Weekly discussed vocational training in Indian prisons as a structured method to develop a work ethic, self-reliance, and cooperation.


However, it also identified systemic limitations. The criminal justice system still treats imprisonment as a punishment rather than a process of rehabilitation.

As a result, vocational programmes exist within a structure that is not designed around reintegration.



The article also mentioned the presence of social stigma. Inmates who receive training and leave prison with formal certification still face rejection from employers. The stigma surrounding incarceration overrides any vocational progress. This is especially present among former inmates with no support systems after release.


In 2025, a focused study on women inmates across India noted that vocational training must be adjusted to consider the social, financial, and emotional circumstances women face after release.

Many do not return to environments that support independent work or entrepreneurship. In such cases, the availability of post-release credit, as seen in Nagpur, becomes a critical factor.


The presence of structured vocational training in Nagpur and Amravati reflects a shift in how prison time is organised. While long-term outcomes remain to be fully documented, the continued focus on certified skills, income generation, and structured engagement points to a model being implemented beyond confinement.



References




bottom of page