Governor Acharya Devvrat said that constructive and positive thinking could bring major changes in the society and efforts of the responsible persons could prove to be very useful in this direction. He was speaking after inaugurating two-day conference on women in detention and access to justice organized by Prison and Correctional Services, HP net Shimla, today.The Governor said that we must change our view point to take the society ahead on the path of peace, prosperity and development. He said history was full of examples where an individual became the source of change and inspiration to the society and we must follow foot prints of such noble personalities.Acharya Devvrat said that if a person was honest in his efforts, he would certainly achieve the objective. He said prisoners needed to be guided to live with positive thoughts so that they could come out of thoughts of committing something wrong in their lives and this way they could lead a normal life ahead.The Governor appreciated the efforts of prison department to work in this direction and especially lauded the work of Director General, Prisons & Correctional Services Somesh Goel for initiating educational projects for the prisoners and also taking natural farming through them. He said that the prisoners of Kanda jail (Ghanahti) had set an example to others by engaging themselves in natural farming. He expressed hope that such activities would definitely change the life of prisoners. He congratulated the organizers for organizing this conference and hoped that better results would come in the deliberations during the seminar.
He released the short film "Behind the Bars" and honoured the director of the film Dr. Devkanya Thakur on the occasion. Chief Secretary B.K. Agarwal congratulated the department of Prisons and Correctional Services to hold such an important conference on the sensitive issue. He said that the Constitution had given equal rights to the prisoners and they should not be deprived of these rights.He said that state Government was providing health and education etc. facilities to prisoners so that they could move forward in the direction of improvement. He stressed on training of officers and officials dealing with prisoners.Director General, BPR &D A.P. Maheshwari said that near about four lakh persons were in detention due to many reasons and circumstances. We should look them according to the criteria of civil society. We have to get away from our limited thought and don't despise the culprit who so ever may be, he said. He said that more facilities should be provided to them besides starting skill generation programmes which would help in generating self confidence.Sumesh Goel detailed out various programmes and progressive schemes being implemented for the prisoners. He said various activities were being carried out through them like sale of products prepared by jail inmates with an aim to connecting them with mainstream of the society.Senior officers of prison department from all over the country and other prominent people were also present on the occasion.