Tihar inmates to be made literate

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) With a view to educating all itsinmates, the Tihar Prison will introduce the National LiteracyMission Programme in all its jails.

"We are introducing the National Literacy MissionProgramme in all our jails. This is being done to make all ourinmates literate. Nearly 25 per cent of our prison populationis illiterate," Sunil Gupta, Tihar Prisons spokesperson, said.

The literacy programme was launched by the Government in1988 eradicate illiteracy by making 80 million adults in the15-35 age group literate.

Gupta said that the programme will be introduced in thefirst week of February.

He said help will be taken from educated prison inmates toensure the success of the programme.

"Nearly 75 per cent of the prison population havecompleted their schooling. We will take their help toimplement the NLMP in the jail. As per our plans they will befirst taught how to carry out the programme amongst theinmates," he said.

Gupta said, "We will see to it that even if we have ailliterate prisoner with us only for a week''s time, he or sheis learned enough to be able to sign his or her name when outof this place." PTI SWT