Chandrapur: People learn from their mistakes but jail is the last place where anybody would want to learn. However, 108 prisoners have given up their lifelong addiction to alcohol and tobacco in Chandrapur district jail in the last 11 months, thanks to a rigorous de-addiction programme.Chandrapur district jail superintendent Bhaidas Dhole is implementing the programme. Over 350 inmates have given-up addiction in four different jails in the last nine years, thanks to his measures.The Chandrapur prisoners have not only vowed before other inmates and counsellors but have also given in writing that they will not consume liquor or tobacco. “Having defeated the evil of addiction, people step out of jail motivated, full of vigour and will power. This self-confidence helps them defeat social evil for which they were lodged in the jail,” Dhole says.The state government has announced Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi Rajyastriya Vyasanmukti Seva Puraskar for 2017-18 to Dhole for his work. He is the first jail superintendent in the state to get an award for the de-addiction cause among the jail inmates.“It began in 2009, while I was posted at Jalgaon district jail. Focused measures through counselling, motivation and guidance helped 70 inmates there give up addiction,” said Dhole and added that after initial success de-addiction became his life mission.At every jail where Dhole is posted, de-addiction programmes starts from the day of his joining. His efforts have also helped 170 prisoners at Amravati district jail and 12 prisoners at Gadchiroli district open jail give up addiction.Chandrapur jail has a 510 jail inmates, including 37 convicts and 446 under-trials, apart from 27 women prisoners. Chandrapur being a dry district, 63% of the inmates are being tried for liquor-related offences. Dhole informed that he takes help of counsellors from district legal aid authority and women and children welfare committee, holds telemedicine counselling sessions, dental check-up camps, video shows on ill effects of addiction, spiritual motivation through yoga, art of living and sermons for de-addiction cause.“We hold a programme ‘Mann Ki-Baat, kaidi bhaiyon ke saath’ every month. It is an interactive session between doctors, counsellors and jail inmates. While inmates narrate their experiences of addiction and hurdles in giving it up, counsellors and doctors guide them on how to overcome the problem,” Dhole said.

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