Tinka Tinka India Awards (TTIA): 2019
Year: V
Tinka Tinka India Awards: Honouring Inmates & Prison Staff: Radio in Jails
Exclusive awards for inmates & prison administrators
Highlights
- 21 inmates and 8 prison administrators were chosen for awards in 2019
- 4 main awards
- 9 consolation prizes
- 8 special mentions
- Awards were dedicated to reformation and creativity in jails.
- The theme for paintings this year was ‘Radio in Jails’
- Prison Reformer Vartika Nanda is the founder of Tinka Tinka Foundation, aiming at connecting prisons across India
- Awards were released by Shri Anand Kumar, IPS, DG Prisons, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Sulkhan Singh, Former DG Police, Uttar Pradesh and Vartika Nanda, Founder, Tinka Tinka Foundation
- The awards were given at District Jail, Lucknow on International Human Rights Day
Three categories–Painting, Special Talent and Awards for Jail Administrators
The theme for the painting section this year was Radio in Jails
Ajay a convict from Central Jail, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh was awarded the first prize for his black and white pencil sketch depicting the entry of radio in jail, breaking the feeling of bondage in shackles.
Sanjay Phool Singh lodged in Bhopal Central Jail, Madhya Pradesh was awarded the second prize.
Both from Uttar Pradesh, Nigam Panwar, 56, under life imprisonment at District Jail, Saharanpur and Dinesh Kumar, 30, lodged in District jail, Bareilly shared the third prize.
This year, nine inmates were additionally awarded the consolation prize.
3 prizes were from Central Jail, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh.
Prem Singh, 30, lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi was a physiotherapist prior to his incarceration. His colourful painting depicted how radio entered the dark and dreary life of a prisoner like a ray of sunshine to brighten their minds, hearts and souls.
Bhargav Mansukh Butani, 27, lodged in Lajpore Central Jail, Surat, Gujarat.
Poonam Shakya, 48, a female inmate from District Jail, Mainpuri.
Arun Rana, 29, an undertrial from District Jail, Ghaziabad, vividly depicted the jail choir to highlight the role of music in prison.
Sachin Rai, 42, lodged in Central Jail, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Raja Ram, 34, lodged in Central Jail, Bhatinda, also received a consolation prize for his black and white sketch portraying two inmates listening to a radio in the barrack, bringing out its potential to bring together inmates and build relationships. He was even the Tinka Tinka 2018 first prize winner in painting.
Eight inmates were chosen for awards under the category of Special Mention.
Naveen Ahuja, 46, a convict from Tihar Jail, Delhi had his own private business prior to incarceration. Since imprisonment, he has obtained a B.Com. Degree and even mastered computer skills. He is skilled at making toiletries like soaps, detergents, hand wash, incense sticks and cones and uses his skills to train fellow inmates at this life skill. He encourages other inmates to enrol in various courses offered in the jail school as well, such as productive enterprises like Computers and Hotel Management.
Sandhya, 25, is a convict from District Jail, Banda, UP passionate about taking forward the initiative of our Prime Minister to make India a plastic-free country by making cloth bags in jail using her creativity and talent in stitching. She also teaches children of inmates and her fellow less-educated inmates to enhance their education.
Uday Sarup, 26, is an undertrial lodged in District Jail, Agra. Earlier, he held a Fellowship from Ashoka University and was doing his MA in Philosophy after a BSC (Hons). He commendably continued his education while in jail, pursuing a PG Diploma in Women and Gender Studies and a course in Urdu Language from IGNOU. He gives legal assistance to help fellow inmates with their legal requirements. He also plays an integral role in the planning, execution and commencement of Agra Jail Radio.
Tuhina Saxena, 29, is an undertrial at District Jail, Agra who was a post-graduate at IIM, Bangalore. She has played a vital role in the establishment of Jail Radio, even encouraging her fellow inmates to make use of the radio.
Kamlesh, 35, lodged in District Jail, Firozabad, selflessly provides exemplary support to her fellow women inmates in their times of illness and need. She has been seen to unhesitatingly start cleaning toilets following use without even waiting for the staff.
Yogeshwari, 22, is a convict from Central Jail, Bhopal, MP. A qualified psychologist, with an M.A in Clinical Psychology, she is creatively utilizing her expertise to improve the life of other female inmates.
Charan Singh, 28, is lodged in Central Jail, Alwar, Rajasthan. A sub-inspector in CRPF, he has helped the prison system immensely by guiding his fellow inmates with using the jail calling system.
Uttam Shantaram Potdar, 60, has already spent more than twenty years in Central Jail, Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Working as a Radio Jockey at the in-house jail radio, “FM Lai Bhari”, he has come up with many novel programs related to prison reforms.
Eight administrators were chosen for the Tinka Tinka India Award for Administrators this year.
P N Pandey, Superintendent of District Jail, Lucknow was given a special honour for bringing positivity to the prison environment.
Ranjit Kumar Singh is Superintendent of District Jail, Banda. Under his guidance, the jail has been selected among the best five jails of Uttar Pradesh, earning his recognition from the UP Prison Administration.
Santosh Kumar Verma, Deputy Jailor and PRO in Headquarters, Lucknow has worked towards encouraging art and creativity in prisons, including introducing a library with the support of BIMTECH, Lucknow and renovating the jail museum. He has also contributed toward the education of inmates in Barabanki and Bahraich Prison.
B.S. Mukund, Jailor in Kaushambi has carried out extensive work directed towards the maintenance and beautification of the jail environment and improving the quality of food. Health camps are regularly carried out under his initiative, even including mental health camps.
Two jail staff members, Brajesh Kumar from District Jail, Mainpuri and Shabnam Nigar from Nari Bandi Niketan, Lucknow, were selected for fostering creativity through their teaching.
Samakant Chandrakant Shedge, Senior Jailor of Central Jail, Kolhapur, Maharashtra was recognized for starting a telemedicine facility for inmates, a video-conferencing facility for interviews and even contributing to the establishment of the jail radio. He was appointed as Special Officer on Terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab (Mumbai Terrorist Attack)
Surinder Pal Khanna, Superintendent of Central Jail, Kapurthala, Punjab has strived towards eradicating addiction in jail. He established the OOAT Centre in the jail, for the hospitalisation and proper treatment of inmates suffering from addiction.
Bharat Lal Meena, a Head Warder at Central Jail, Alwar has played an exemplary role in promoting education. Apart from encouraging enrolment in the Jail ITI, which provides vocational training programs, he has contributed extensively to jail library maintenance.
GLIMPSES
Print Media Coverage
Such awards will surely boost the confidence of the inmates to evoke their inner talents. Giving awards to inmates is something very few people in the world do. It was for the first time in the history of India that awards were given to inmates and prison staff honoring their exemplary work inside prisons. Tinka Tinka & Vartika Nanda has been constantly working towards prison reforms and for the last few years, they have really managed to bring a lot of stories to the common people. #tinkatinka #vartikananda #jail
Creativity can help one let go of a lot of what disrupts his/her peace of mind. It has the potential to introduce someone to appreciation. Appreciation is important in the lives of these inmates because they are already seen as an outcast in society. It’s a hope to any inmate who thinks his/her past makes him/her unworthy of appreciation and just a subject of criticism. Giving them awards to appreciate their work is the one step up for their creativity. If someone is willing to change we ought to make it easier for them, that’s what Tinka Tinka Foundation aims for and that’s what they are efficiently pursuing. I’m glad someone is making us think about and question the general perceptions.
#vartikananda #tinkatinka #prison #jail
Every human being looks for validation – from their parents and family members as an infant,from their their school teachers and friends as a child and from various components of society later in life as an adult. We are quick to assume that the needs and wants of jail inmates are nowhere similar to our own as we barely even view them as ‘people’ and parts of the society. It is heartwarming to see that Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms Movement has, fro the past five years, understood the need of jail inmates to grow, learn, excel and be appreciated. I’m sure these awards are what a lot of jail inmates look forward to and are inspired by. They’re surely filled with purpose and desire to showcase their talents and skills because now, they know, that someone is here to appreciate and recognize them, not as merely jail inmates but as talented indiviuals. #tinkatinka #vartikananda #prisonreforms #jailreforms #jailsofindia #reforms #ttia #awardsforjails #awards
The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more. Inmates exhibiting profound creative talents and administrators doing extraordinary work in prisons have been awarded with Special Awards by Tinka Tinka. These are national awards and the first of its kind recognising the good work done by both jail staff and inmates. I believe nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm and appreciation and this commendable initiative taken by Dr.VartikaNanda to encourage inmates to exhibit their creativity, highlighting the issues of jail reforms and human rights, signifies her great contribution to the reformation of Jails in India. Her efforts to recognise and appreciate these prisoners are admirable and praiseworthy.
#Tinkatinka #Vartikananda #Prison #Jails
The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more. Inmates exhibiting profound creative talents and administrators doing extraordinary work in prisons have been awarded with Special Awards by Tinka Tinka.
These are national awards and the first of its kind recognising the good work done by both jail staff and inmates.
I believe nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm and appreciation and this commendable initiative taken by Dr.VartikaNanda to encourage inmates to exhibit their creativity, highlighting the issues of jail reforms and human rights, signifies her great contribution to the reformation of Jails in India. Her efforts to recognise and appreciate these prisoners are admirable and praiseworthy.
#Tinkatinka #Vartikananda #Prison #Jails
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It is important to recognize and reward those inmates who are making an effort to improve themselves after the mistakes they have made. We should recognize people who are willing to change even under the difficult circumstances under which they have to live in prisons. It is excellent that Tinka Tinka is appreciating and rewarding inmates’ creativity and talents. I hope new categories are also added to the awards. It is also very good to know that organizations are recognizing the hard work of prison staff and administrations. It will motivate them to do better. #tinkatinka #awards #vartikananda #prisonreforms