During 26th May to 30th May 2025 Sri Prasanna Veeranjaneya Yoga Kendra, a prestigious wing of SPV Seva Trust, Mahalakshmi Lay Out was requested to conduct, five different sessions to the inmates of Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, Bangalore. We were fortunate to get a rare opportunity for our 35 yoga practitioners and resource to conduct, the following sessions/workshops, each for 2 hours per day.
(a) Yoga
(b) Pranayama
(c) Emotional Counselling
(d) Value Based talk and
(e) free eye check-up and supply of free spectacles.
We conducted eye check-up session on 30th May 2025 with the assistance and cooperation of Lions Club of Bengaluru, Sanjayanagar.
There were approximately 60 participants (both prisoners and under-trails) in each session. We provided the above service without any charge to Central Jail.
We were glad, Jail Authorities of Parappana Agrahara Central Jail gave us permission to 35 Yoga Practitioners for Jail-tour/visit on 30th May 2025 between 1.30 pm and 2.45 pm. In all about 50 of our Yoga Practitioners conducted above sessions and visited the Central Jail during above five days.
Highlights of the Central Jail Visit were as below:
1. Entry and Security
On each five days of our visit, we were asked to keep all our belongings in our Van or surrender the same at their clock room situated outside the main gate of the Jail. Except perhaps our hand kerchiefs, we were not allowed to take any of our belongings inside the jail. Before entry, we were required to produce (a) permission letter earlier issued by the Chief Superintendent to conduct the sessions and (b) our Aadhar Cards. The authorities insisted that we wear (a) the uniform (Yellow T-Shirt with our name and logo) and (b) the identity badge.
issued to us by our Yoga Kendra. At the mini security corridor, we were frisked thoroughly and even our foot-wears were scanned.
2. Conduct of Sessions:
While conducting each session, we were specifically restrained from interacting with the jail inmates nor speak about their being there or their antecedents. However, our interaction (for the limited purpose of conducting the sessions) was different and far away from our preconceived notions.
On the first few minutes of our visit on the first day, we experienced a sense of bit withdrawal. However, subsequently, we could conduct the sessions with ease and the participants too were receptive and involved. There were different set of 50 to 80 participants each day. Most of the participants for first four sessions were undertrials (below the age of 25 years). In the last day’s eye check-session, around 50 prisoners. All of whom were senior citizens. Of all the 50 prisoners checked for eye vision, 36 of them required spectacles. Thanks to sponsorship by Lions Club of Bengaluru, Sanjaynagar, we delivered 36 spectacles to the inmates.
3. About Central Prison, Bengaluru
The Central Prison, Bangalore is the largest prison in Karnataka. Established in 1997, it became the central prison of Bangalore in 2000 when the old jail, which has since been converted to Freedom Park, was shut. This Central Prison for inaugurated by Sri Deva Gowda, former Prime Minister of IndiaT. The Central Prison consisted of approximately 300 police officers. It housed about 5000 prisoners 200 including females and children 6 of prisoners (below the age of 6 yeas), Among those prisoners _ male prisoners were punished to death penalty. Further, there were 112 prisoners punished with rigorous imprisonment, among which 86 were male prisoners and 26 were the females. The prison also consisted of the legal services office and other administrative offices.
T and it is the irony, today his grandson is the inmate in this Central Prison.
4. Visit/Tour inside the Cental Jail:
The tour to Central Jail was unique and emotionally charged experience. The process involved strict security checks.
Jail visits offer insights into the daily routines and living conditions of inmates, which may be different from preconceived notions.
Sri Jakati Senior Jail Officer assisted our Yoga Practitioners in understanding the infrastructure and functioning of the prison.
There were three categories of prisoner namely, convicted prisoners, under trial prisoners and women prisoners. The convicted prisoners are kept separately from other type of prisoners. The area which the convicted prisoners are kept include 7 barracks. Similarly, women prisoners are isolated and kept separately.
We were surprised by the well-maintained facilities and amenities available to inmates, like hospitals, places of worships for different faiths, libraries, and recreation areas. Despite the lack of physical contact during visits overall environment inside the Jail helped us to remove the sense of unease and disappointment.
The Jail provided several vocational training and skill development programs to inmates in the fields of smithy, carpentry, hand weaving, book binding, soap making, tailoring, bakery ingredient preparation, etc. Such rehabilitative initiatives would not only help the inmates develop their skills but to gainfully employ post their jail-release.
Visiting Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, or any jail, can be a powerful and eye-opening experience that sheds light on the realities of incarceration and the efforts made to rehabilitate inmates. While the environment may be different from what some expect, it also provides opportunities for reflection and understanding.
The visit to the Central Prison was a transformative learning opportunity that left a lasting impression on our yoga practitioners. It deepened their understanding of the complexities surrounding incarceration.
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Visit the link below to view pictures taken on the occasion–>
https://photos.app.goo.gl/d3Cjxft4DPeworxz5
