Inmates in Himachal to be provided with books under 'Akshar se Atmabodh' programme

The Himachal Pradesh Department of Prisons and Correctional Services has decided to launch a new programme named ''Akshar se Atmabodh'' to help prisoners reform and rebuild their lives, officials said on Thursday.

Under this programme, inmates lodged across jails in the state will be provided with inspirational, educational, and morally enriching books.

Abhishek Trivedi, Director General, State's Department of Prison and Correctional Services, said that the programme was initially launched at Model Central Jail, Kanda, on April 28, 2026, and it was launched at the Solan District Jail on Thursday. He said that subsequently, it will be introduced in all jails across Himachal Pradesh.

''The aim of the programme is to encourage prisoners to think positively, reflect on their actions, and bring about genuine behavioural change through reading. Inmates will be provided with books from various categories, including motivational literature, biographies, moral education, spiritual texts, and books on personality development. After reading a book, each prisoner will have to submit a short summary of what they understood from it,'' he said.

''Based on their summary, they might be granted a remission in their sentence as per the rules,'' he added.

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