Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala Joins Project “SikhyaDaat”

Shiv Kumar:

Patiala, 17 December: Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala, the first State Open University has joined hands with the Punjab State Prisons and Correctional Services Department under Project “SikhyaDaat” to provide education under the State Government ambitious correctional Programme to make inmates of Punjab Prisons literate so as to enable them to become economically self-depend post-release. The joint efforts of the University and the State Department shall aim at tackling the issue of unemployment causing an increase in crime in society at large.

Dr. Karamjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University, Patiala informed that the University shall provide an educational platform to the inmates of a particular category to enroll them in various programmes offered by the University. A special ‘Learner Support Center’ shall be established to coordinate at Central Jail Patiala as a nodal point for facilitating provision of education at the door step under the vision and mission of the University. Further, provisions of study material and examination as well as evaluation activities shall be held as per University system at Central Jail, Patiala and its satellite centers in other Jail where sufficient number of inmates shall enroll for various Programmes including graduation. The project shall be coordinated by Dr. G.S.Batra, Director, Planning& Monitoring as Nodal Officer of Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open Universityfor facilitation and execution of the scheme.

The University shall also strive to create opportunities through education for inmates to rehabilitate and reintegrate in society as reformed and responsible citizens. The six Schools of the University offer Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programmes of specific studies in the domain of Computers, Education/Vocations,Social Sciences, Languages, Commerce/Management and Religious Studies. The Programmes available with the University have been designed to cater to the needs of the seekers to equip them with skills and vocations of different kinds which are suitable for a variety of employment.