Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112751030300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Special day for jail inmates

Staff Reporter

32 remand prisoners take IT exam

KOZHIKODE: In a way, it was D-day for inmates of the district jail here, when more than 32 remand prisoners appeared for the computer training course examination conducted by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) at the prison premises on Wednesday.

The examination was held at the end of the 40-hour, 40-day, training course in basic computer applications including excel and the internet conducted by IGNOU.

Reportedly, this was the first time remand prisoners were appearing for an IT training programme and their response was highly encouraging, jail sources say.

It was with great enthusiasm that the students including 17 Marad prisoners had participated in the training course.

The IGNOU Study Centre at the prison was set up under the aegis of Olina, an NGO from the Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI). The IGNOU Centre facility enables conducting for backward sections of society any course of the university at half the prescribed fees. Olina provided five computer terminals besides furniture for the computer centre.

The course fee of Rs.310 a student was paid by the women’s wing of the Rotary Club, sources said.