Acting on the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat’s instructions to bring the inmates of Nari Niketan and  the State juvenile home in the mainstream, the department concerned has come up with a skill development programme. It is most likely that the scheme would be firmed up within a fortnight.

As per the officials, there are 115 inmates in the Nari Niketan of whom some are deaf and mentally challenged while 25 inmates are normal. “We have put forward a suggestion to the national institute of entrepreneurship and small business development (NIESBD) regional office Dehradun and now we are waiting for their proposal to reach us. Basically, the skill development programme would involve gardening, blanket making and others, depending on teachers they can provide.

Once the proposal reaches us ,things would be completed within 15 days,” said the district probation officer (DPO) Meena Bisht.

The skill development is not new in the Nari Niketan and the state juvenile home. Such a programme was started two years ago. The inmates make handmade products which are later exhibited at the Parade Ground.

Adding more, the district probation officer said, “We try our best to engage the inmates with some programmes which can help them develop a skill. There is still a training programme going on in the premises for three months. They are being taught needlework. Bank accounts of these inmates are being opened by us. After their products are sold, we transfer the money into their bank accounts.”

She further said, “A regular health check-up is conducted by the team of doctors coming from the Doon Hospital. Besides, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed with Lehman Hospital Dehradun. A team of doctors and councillors also visit both the places once a week.”