Haryana Government and High Court launch jail skill programs and anti-drug campaign to empower inmates & fight substance abuse.

In partnership with the Haryana government, the Punjab and Haryana High Court will open skill development centers, polytechnic diploma programs, and ITI-level vocational training courses in the state’s jails. On December 6, 2025, Justice Surya Kant, the Chief Justice of India, will launch the project at the District Jail in Gurugram.

Judges Rajesh Bindal and Augustine George Masih of the Supreme Court, Justice Sheel Nagu, the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and every High Court judge would be in attendance on this special day.

According to a government spokeswoman, this program has been greatly influenced by the ongoing work of the Justice Kuldeep Tiwari-chaired committee on “Rehabilitation and Skill Development of Undertrials/Prison Inmates.” Their shared vision emphasizes the idea that prisons ought to develop into establishments dedicated to human dignity, capacity growth, and reform.

A revolutionary change in the state’s approach to criminal justice has been brought about by the introduction of polytechnic and skill-development programs in Haryana’s jails. This program will give prisoners access to a variety of technical and vocational education programs. Along with a three-year polytechnic diploma in Computer Engineering, these include ITI courses like Computer Operator and Programming Assistant, Welder, Plumber, Grease Maker, Electrician, Woodwork Technician, Sewing Technology, and Cosmetology. The program’s goal is to give prisoners employable skills that meet the needs of the modern workforce. These programs aim to provide prisoners self-assurance, self-discipline, and a feeling of purpose in addition to technical expertise.

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This program’s overarching goal is to guarantee that prisoners do not experience economic instability or social rejection following their release. Rather, they are given the credentials and abilities needed to find fulfilling work. It represents the idea that everyone has the capacity for change, development, and reintegration, regardless of their prior behavior. The program’s objectives are to lower recidivism, encourage financial independence, and provide offenders the tools they need to live honorable lives through these educational and vocational interventions.

The spokesperson added that the Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA) has developed a thorough anti-drug awareness campaign in conjunction with this reformative endeavor, and it would be introduced at the same event. Under the direction and vision of Justice Lisa Gill, the Executive Chairperson of HALSA and a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, this program is being developed. Combating the alarming increase in drug addiction cases that are impacting young people and their families throughout the state is the goal of this comprehensive, month-long anti-drug awareness campaign. Through focused community participation, the campaign will aim to bring about long-lasting behavioral change in impacted individuals and their families. Its main goal is to inform community people, educators, parents, and students about the long-term effects, psychological effects, and health hazards of drug addiction. Additionally, the campaign will increase public knowledge of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act’s legislative restrictions, the grave repercussions of drug use and trafficking, and the rehabilitation support networks accessible to those who are addicted. The project will support counseling and de-addiction services, bolster early identification systems, and foster community-level vigilance against the spread of narcotics through coordinated efforts across districts.

District Legal Services Authorities, the Police Department, the Health and Education Departments, the Social Welfare and Women & Child Development Departments, Panchayati Raj institutions, NGOs, youth organizations, school and college administrations, rehabilitation centers, and community leaders have all been involved in order to guarantee the campaign’s widest possible reach. Awareness rallies, street plays, legal literacy workshops, interactive school sessions, counseling camps, social media outreach, capacity-building training, and activities to support vulnerable communities are all part of a week-by-week action plan that has been prepared at the state and district levels.

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He added that these initiatives, which are overseen by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Haryana Government, reinforce the idea that significant change is achievable when systems place a high priority on empowerment, education, rehabilitation, and assistance. Launching prison skill-development programs and a statewide anti-drug campaign at the same time is a holistic strategy to create a society that is safer, more conscious, and more caring. These programs safeguard communities against drug usage, uphold human dignity while incarcerated, and open the door to a more welcoming and healthy society.