SRINAGAR: Continuing with its endeavor to help the underprivileged sections of society to complete their formal education at school level, the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) has opened its first study centre for prisoners of Jammu and Kashmir at District Jail Pulwama.
NIOS is an autonomous institution under Ministry of Education, Government of India, mandated to impart education and certification under open and distance learning mode at school level to underprivileged sections/ drop outs.
“NIOS has more than 200 study centres in jails across the country wherein inmates/prisoners can enrol themselves for 10th/12th certification. But, in J&K, there was no such centre and, the District Jail Pulwama has become the first centre in the Union Territory” said Naipal Singh, Regional Director, NIOS J&K.
He further said that Prisons Department, J&K has asked all the Jail Superintendents to apply for the NIOS accreditation to start study centres and several of them have already applied for the same.
“The process is underway and soon other District Jails will also have NIOS study centres which will immensely help those inmates who want to complete their education,” he said and added that jail inmates/ prisoners were not charged any registration and examination charges besides, the study material is also provided free of cost.

KR Desk