Telangana Prisons DGP Soumya Mishra rewards 78 inmates on clearing SSC for first time
78 Telangana inmates have cleared the SSC examination through NIOS for the first time, earning special remission and a new opportunity to pursue higher education, ITI courses and rehabilitation.
Recognising their determination, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Dr Soumya Mishra announced special remission for all the inmates who successfully cleared the examination.
HYDERABAD: Education has opened a new path towards rehabilitation for 78 inmates in Telangana, who have successfully cleared the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
The achievement marks the first time that 78 inmates have cleared the SSC examination under the Telangana Prisons Department’s education and rehabilitation initiative.
Recognising their determination, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Dr Soumya Mishra announced special remission for all the inmates who successfully cleared the examination.
Of the 78 successful candidates, 56 are inmates of Central Prison, Cherlapalli, 15 are from Central Prison, Nizamabad, and seven are inmates of the Special Prison for Women, Hyderabad.
A total of 108 inmates had enrolled in the programme and underwent a year-long academic programme that included regular classes, mock tests and pre-board examinations.
Distributing certificates to the successful candidates, Dr Soumya Mishra congratulated the inmates on their achievement and said education could play a crucial role in self-improvement, rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.
The remission announced by the Director General is intended to serve not only as a reward for the inmates’ academic achievement but also as an incentive for them to continue their education.
Dr Mishra encouraged the successful SSC candidates to enrol in the NIOS Senior Secondary (10+2) programme and pursue higher education.
The pathway does not end with the SSC examination.
Inmates who complete their 10+2 education will be eligible to pursue B.A. programmes through the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University Study Centre at Cherlapalli Central Prison. The successful SSC candidates can also opt for ITI courses to acquire technical and vocational skills that could improve their employment prospects after release.
The department said another 47 inmates have already enrolled for SSC studies, indicating growing interest among prisoners in using education as a means of building a better future.
The initiative also highlights a larger shift in the approach towards correctional services, with education and skill development being used as important instruments of rehabilitation rather than treating imprisonment only as a punitive measure.
Dr Soumya Mishra appreciated the contribution of NIOS officials, prison officers, teachers, welfare officers and education coordinators who supported the inmates throughout the programme.
For the 78 successful candidates, however, the SSC certificate represents more than an academic qualification.
It is a second chance — and the prison system is now encouraging them to use it to build the next chapter of their lives.
