‘Women freed from prison deserve a second chance’

Indrani Mukerjea at the rehabilitation and empowerment initiative, launched at the Ambadevi Mandir Trust Hall in Worli, on Saturday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Former media baron, Indrani Mukerjea, who spent six years behind bars for her alleged role in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, and is out on bail since May last year, has initiated an outreach programme for women released from prison. Mukerjea has collaborated with NGO Insaniyat, founded by Arjun Dattaji Meghe, which has been helping underprivileged women in Worli and the surrounding areas, to provide vocational training programme and livelihood opportunities for former prisoners. The rehabilitation and empowerment initiative, which will involve training women to make candles, incense sticks, bags and other decorative items, was launched at the Ambadevi Mandir Trust Hall in Worli, on Saturday.

Arjun Dattaji Meghe

At the event, Mukerjea also shared her open letter to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, where she highlighted the problems undertrials and prison inmates experience. "In the course of my six-year journey behind these prison walls, I have been a silent observer of the trials endured by countless women who share this space with me. It is with the sincerest intention that I draw attention to the need for a renewed focus on enhancing the conditions under which these women live," Mukerjea wrote.

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She further shared, "The prison is something which changes you inside out, but it depends upon the individual how the change will be. Many women like me get abandoned by their loved ones. The current prison system, though rapidly evolving, has some serious flaws. Open prisons and halfway homes for women prisoners is the need of the hour... it is a compassionate route for rehabilitation, nurturing recovery and societal reintegration."

Speaking to mid-day, Mukerjea said her personal experience behind bars led her to work for the cause of women undertrials. "The mental issues faced by undertrials is worrisome. I have seen many women around me who were highly depressed and wanted to give up," she said. "But we developed a support system in jail. We need to work on a more holistic and empathetic approach" she said, adding that they needed a second chance. Meghe, founder of Insaniyat said that his NGO will be providing vocational training to such women. "We have set a target to make 4,000 women financially independent through our initiative," he said.