Uttar Pradesh jail inmates sit for board examinations

Gorakhpur, Mar 9 (ANI): Jail inmates from various district jails in Uttar Pradesh appeared for the board examinations at the Gorakhpur district Jail on Monday.

While the proposal to set up exam centres in jails received an in-principal approval in May 2009, the exams are being conducted for the first time this year.

Undertrials inside Uttar Pradesh prisons were given an opportunity to appear in Board exams while they remained in confinement.

The motive behind conducting the exams for the inmates inside the jail premises is to give them an opportunity to pursue their studies.

"The motive behind conducting the exams in jail is to give the undertrial jail inmates who were unable to pursue their education, an opportunity to study and sit for exams. Knowledge is power and so Government has given this opportunity for the first time so that every person becomes literate. The idea is quite beneficial," said Harender Singh, Jail Incharge, Gorakhpur.

14 candidates appeared for their exams at the exam centre in Gorkakhpur Jail from nearby districts.

"This is a nice scheme by government. Maybe this will help us in attaining a bright future," said Rahul Upadhyay, a jail inmate.

The state government has designated all the prisons as centres for examinations in the primary education category. (ANI)