A Psychiatrist Negotiates The Prison System - Launch Stage

The project launch ceremony was held in end April, 1994. The Chief Guest, Mr Pawan Chopra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was moved to tears hearing the sharing of recovery by our residents. "Hum Honge Kamyab" the Hindi Version of "We Shall Overcome" moved many in the audience. A felt need of the community to have a Activity Hall was met as one barrack was inaugurated by AASRA Chairman, Dr Devinder Mohan, A.I.I.M.S. Chief of Psychiatry. A hawan was held in which the chief guest participated. As had become common, AASRA functions provided goodies to eat for residents and senior prisoners from other wards.

AASRA Parivar was the first to celebrate the first anniversary, in May '94, of the Prison Reform Programme. A silver bowl was presented by AASRA to Dr Kiran Bedi. Appreciating her tobacco-less jail, a trophy was also presented by the residents of the community in a small, moving ceremony inside the activity hall. We would like to believe that we gave a push for the later Magsaysay Award ably deserved by Dr Bedi.

With more staff trainees, the focus was on training, curriculum, and shaping behaviour. The behaviour monitoring system was refined and a five colour behaviour rating code was introduced. An elaborate "Shaping Pro-Social Behaviour" programme was launched in the community after detailed study of the Indian Prisons Act and the Delhi Jail Manual. A protocol to this effect was presented to the Inspector General Of Prison and Senior Jail Officials of Jail 4. Rewards for pro-social behaviour and consequences/learning experiences for anti-social behaviour were refined with the suggestions of the residents. Confrontation and the Encounter Group Process was taught, practised and refined. Focus was on faulty attitudes and repeated behaviour patterns. Recommitment for positive behaviour from those transgressing and monitoring of their behaviour by the leaders helped them in correction. An Incidents' Register was introduced which not only had incident reports of negative events in the community but also learning experiences prescribed. Mr Jayadev Sarangi, D.I.G. Prisons, was instrumental in its implementation. The records of incidents in this register provided a longitudinal history of negative behaviour of any individual. Once, a convict officer was falsely accused by a resident in a petition in court. The longitudinal negative behaviour recorded in this register helped clarify matters for the convict officer.

Family Heads and Big Brothers were regularly rated by staff supervisors for each family. Gradually, more pro-social residents took over senior leadership positions. Criteria for promotion or demotion were refined. Cardinal Rules for the community were consensually defined.

Refinement of the curriculum was necessary as analysis of admissions and discharges in the previous phase revealed that about half the population of the community left within three months. The message and effect of the programme had to reach the small brothers much faster. New additions were video-feedback, pro-and-con game, meditation programme every morning, and focus on contact with the family of origin through letters.

The Education programme was refined with the coming of our new convict officer, "Guruji"/"Masterji"/"Rajinder - Jathedar". This remarkable man took charge of the indiscipline in the community and made the "Shaping Behaviour" programme work. On my advice, he gave up sleeping in the afternoons in his cell. He would then get locked up with the prisoners in one of the barracks and conduct education classes in the afternoons. Simultaneously, he and his team, which included Mr Pradeep Monga, helped drive out a major negative habit inculcated in prisons - sleeping in the afternoons. This habit is promoted by a lame excuse of the prison that the jail has to be closed in the afternoons to give some rest to the overworked head warders. A solution for a hundred tired head warders inculcated negative habits in nine thousand prisoners. There was scant regard for N.G.O. programme personnel who hung around for four productive hours while the prison slept.

Under his able guidance, the massive landscape garden project gathered speed. A pond with a bridge on top, a waterfall, an aviary, a fountain and landscaped garden grew and became a reality. All families contributed equally. Some equipment was provided by AASRA, and some by the Prison. A dynamic superintendent of Jail 4, Dr Ajay Singla, not only helped negotiate the prison system to get this project near completion but also participated in the AASRA Parivar and several of his suggestions are incorporated in the curriculum. He now heads the new adolescents jail. The candle-making workshop has had fits and starts because of the non- availability of wax under concessional quota. Trial runs had been carried out with wax purchased at the regular market prices. Coordinating with the jail who has this quota for renewals was an experience par frustration. Mr Devinder Joti, who replaced Mr Amit, and Mr Devinder Kohli steered the programme during this period as AASRA staff members.

AASRA staff members served as "rational authority". While giving a consequence/learning experience to a resident for a transgression, the staff gave a reason that was consistent with the therapeutic community's "view of right living", highlighted the effect the errant behaviour had on the community and the resident, and suggested the expected behaviour option to be used in future. They also encouraged expression of feelings/emotions that this exercise had aroused in the errant resident. AASRA staff members had to articulate the rationale for their decision to the resident, to the community, and to the prison staff. Through this process, residents were guided towards greater autonomy and dignity.

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