Patna: Bihar’s prisons are increasingly being transformed from places of confinement into centres focused on education, skill development and rehabilitation. The prison administration is expanding classrooms, smart classrooms, computer laboratories, libraries and vocational training facilities to help inmates prepare for life after release.
The broader objective is to combine correction with rehabilitation and enable prisoners to develop skills that can help them become financially independent and return to society with greater confidence.
Education Becomes a Key Part of Prison Reform
Education is at the centre of Bihar’s rehabilitation efforts, with inmates being encouraged to pursue formal education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s Prison Statistics India 2024 report, 24,050 prisoners in Bihar benefited from primary education programmes during 2024. Another 6,844 participated in adult education, while 928 inmates pursued higher education and 266 received computer training.
Across these four categories, 32,088 prisoners in Bihar benefited from educational programmes during the year. The state also reported 7,387 prisoners undergoing vocational training in 2024, among the highest figures recorded nationally.
According to Bihar Home Department data, 1,256 prisoners enrolled for Class 10 examinations through NIOS in 2025, while 183 enrolled for Class 12. A further 1,565 inmates joined different IGNOU programmes, with 1,354 beginning higher education courses.
Several prisons have consequently developed study centres, libraries, smart classrooms and computer facilities to support inmates pursuing education.
Computer Training Expanded Across 41 Prisons
Digital literacy has emerged as another major component of the rehabilitation programme.
During 2025-26, 3,902 prisoners received training in different vocational trades, while 1,443 acquired technical skills through programmes associated with the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT).
Following an agreement between NIELIT Patna and the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, computer laboratories have been established or upgraded in 41 prisons across Bihar. Around 250 computers, along with UPS units and furniture, have been provided at a cost of approximately ₹2 crore.
The training includes computer operations, typing and internet usage, giving inmates basic digital skills that could prove useful when they return to the workforce.
Vocational Training Aims to Create Employment Opportunities
The rehabilitation programme also includes a range of employment-oriented activities.
Prisoners are being trained in incense-stick and candle making, goat and poultry farming, vermicomposting, electrical work, plumbing, tailoring, beauty services and Mithila painting.
At Kishanganj Jail, around 150 inmates have received training in computer operations, incense-stick and candle making, goat rearing and other self-employment activities. Computer literacy and vermicomposting programmes are also being conducted in Bhagalpur, while inmates at Banka Jail are being trained to produce organic manure from kitchen waste.
Professor BN Prasad, Head of the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, said employment-oriented activities could help reduce stress and violent tendencies among prisoners. He also emphasised that combining vocational skills with a sense of responsibility could improve the chances of inmates returning to society as productive citizens.
Yoga and Meditation Included in Rehabilitation
Bihar’s prison reform programme is also focusing on the mental and physical well-being of inmates.
Under a five-year agreement with the Art of Living Foundation, yoga and meditation sessions are being conducted across all 59 prisons in the state. The programme aims to help inmates manage stress, develop self-discipline and maintain emotional balance.
Yoga sessions are conducted alongside morning physical training, with master trainers supporting the programme. The Art of Living Foundation provides the schedule and training framework.
Prison Radio Gives Inmates a New Role
Alongside formal education and vocational programmes, Bihar’s prisons have also introduced initiatives such as prison radio.
Under the programme, inmates themselves work as radio jockeys after receiving training within the prison premises. The initiative provides them with an opportunity to develop communication skills while contributing to the prison community.
The administration is also continuing literacy programmes through NIOS and IGNOU and digital training through NIELIT.
Rehabilitation Alongside Security
While rehabilitation remains a major focus, the prison administration is also working to strengthen security arrangements for inmates considered dangerous or high-risk.
Proposals include the construction of high-security prisons in remote locations and the development of an open prison at Shaheed Jubba Sahni Central Jail in Bhagalpur.
The overall approach reflects an attempt to balance security with rehabilitation by giving prisoners access to education, professional skills, physical activities and mental-health-oriented programmes. The long-term aim is to ensure that inmates leaving prison have greater opportunities to rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of returning to crime.
