IGNOU to educate jail birds and sex workers

Patna, Sep 20 (UNI) Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a literacy programme to educate prisoners and sex workers under its motto of ''reaching the unreached'' people.

IGNOU is the only institution of higher learning in the country to launch such programme for jail inmates as well as prostitutes and their children by opening study centres in different jails and red light areas of Bihar with special focus on the Beur Central jail in Patna and red light areas in Muzaffarpur, the largest hub of brothels in the state.

When approached Mr Devendra Chaudhry, Pro-Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, told UNI that though efforts were on, some of the study centres were not functioning well for quite some time. He said attempts were being made to look into the matter with active support from different quarters to use full resources so that the deprived section of people were not left behind from getting benefits of education.

Those who have already been getting such knowledge in various prisons and brothel houses had shown keen interest in the programmes launched by IGNOU which include awareness campaign on HIV AIDS, Human Rights and other fundamental Rights and Duties.

IGNOU programmes are quite popular in Bihar as there are some 50,000 students, who enrolled themselves with this premier centre of learning for its various courses. IGNOU has over 20 lakh enrollments in its 160 programmes across the globe.

UNI