Tinka Tinka India Awards for 2019 Announced

Exclusive Awards for Inmates and Prison Administrators

• 13 inmates across India have been awarded for their painting (4 main awards and 9 consolation prizes), 8 inmates have been chosen for their extraordinary work in jail and 8 jail staff have been honoured in the Prison Administrators award section.
• The Awards have been initiated for 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, aiming at connecting prisons across India.
• The 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. 
• The Jury this year included Shri Ram Phal Pawar, IPS, DG, NCRB and Dr. Javeed Ahmed, IPS, DG, NICFS, MHA and Vartika Nanda. The Jury meet was held at the NCRB headquarters on December 3, 2019.
• The Three prizes are awarded in three categories– Painting, Special Talent and Awards for Jail Administrators

National awards for inmates and prison staff were released in Lucknow District jail today on the eve of International Human Rights Day.

Painting Section

In the painting section for inmates, Ajay from Bilaspur Central Jail, Chattisgarh has been given the first prize for his black and white pencil sketch depicting the entry of radio in jail, breaking the feeling of bondage in shackles. Ajay is a convict and was a sculptor before his imprisonment.

The Second prize was given to Sanjay Phool Singh lodged in the Bhopal Central Jail, Madhya Pradesh. 31-year old Sanjay was an electrician before being incarcerated. His black and white pencil sketch demonstrates the varying and widespread effects of Radio in Jail, like education and knowledge, entertainment, legal queries, announcements of examinations and competitions being held in jail. His sketch depicts inmates in barracks with radio broadcast which helps them come together and share common ground.

The Third prize is shared by two inmates from UP. 56 year– old Nigam Panwar, who is convicted for life and is lodged in District Jail, Saharanpur. He did farming as well computer repair before being sentenced.  The Third prize winner is Dinesh Kumar, who is 30 years old and in District jail, Bareilly.

Consolation Prizes

9 consolation prizes have also been given in this section.

3 prizes are from Central Jail, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh. Sarvan, 27 years old was a student before he was sent to jail. His pencil sketch shows broadcasting of jail radio throughout the jail, the barracks, the gardens, and in the grounds where inmates can keep listening to the radio while they do their activities. This helps inmates to not only feel connected to the outside world but also helps them to develop positive and healthier thoughts.

Kanti Sao is a 43– year female convict. Her pencil sketch expresses the benefits and value of radio in jail. Her painting depicts, in particular, women inmates and how radio provides information regarding education, the importance of earning a living for women, information regarding health, hygiene and cleanliness. She also depicts a playground and expresses an attitude not to give up but to keep trying.

30 year old Prem Singh, now lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi was a physiotherapist. His painting expresses through colour how radio has entered the dark and dreary life of an imprisoned person like a ray of sunshine, brightening the mind, heart and soul of the prisoner.

Bhargav Mansukh Butani is 27 years and imprisoned at the Lajpore Central Jail, Surat, Gujarat. An Undertrial, his black and white painting is a depiction of how radio in jail, with its content of entertainment, music, news and sports, is a way for the prisoner to experience the outside world from which he is cut off. It gives to the prisoner a sense of freedom and a sense of having broken the chains of bondage.

75 year– old Besh Lal, a convict in Bilaspur Central Jail has been given a consolation prize. With a BSC. degree, he was a painter by profession. He can now no longer  walk but is an asset to the jail. He is also a painting teacher. This jail has started a special studio under the guidance of Shri S S Tigga, former  Superintendent of Chattisgarh jail, with the motivation of Vartika Nanda.

2 prizes are from UP– Poonam Shakya, a 48 year old female inmate from District Jail, Mainpuri. 29 year old Arun Rana, an undertrial from District Jail, Ghaziabad. A labourer before his incarceration, his colourful depiction of the jail choir expresses the need for music in jail.

42 year old Sachin Rai, lodged at the Central jail, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, depicts the usefulness of radio in jail where inmates can gain a wide range of assets like personal development, spirituality, goodwill, progress and creativity.

Raja Ram, 34 years old from Central jail, Bhatinda, also received a consolation prize. He was the Tinka Tinka 2018, first prize winner in painting. His painting is a black and white sketch showing radio being played in the barrack, while two inmates are listening to it together. He attempts to express the role of radio in jail in bringing about togetherness and camaraderie.

Special Mention

8 inmates have been chosen for the awards under the category of Special Mention.

46 year old Naveen Ahuja, lodged in Tihar Jail, Delhi had his own private business before imprisonment.  While in jail he has obtained a B.Com. Degree and has mastered computer skills. He is skilled at making toiletries like soaps, detergents, hand wash, incense sticks, and cones. He trains the inmates at making these, as well in making shoe uppers. He encourages the inmates to enroll in the various courses offered in the jail school like Computers and Hotel Management.

25 year old Sandhya is convicted in District jail, Banda, UP. Taking forward the initiative of our Prime Minister in making India a plastic free country, Sandhya is making cloth bags in jail using her creativity and talent in stitching. She also teaches inmates and their children, helping to increase the level of education amongst inmates.

Uday Sarup, is a 26 year old undertrial lodged in the Agra Jail. Uday is highly educated, finished his BSC ( Hons), obtained a Fellowship from Ashoka University and was doing MA  in Philosophy at the time of incarceration. Even while in jail he is doing his PG Diploma in Women and Gender Studies and a course in Urdu Language from IGNOU. He gives legal assistance, helping inmates with their legal requirements. He is helping to bring about awareness regarding mental health among inmates and guides them in the use of positive psychology in their day to day life. He also has an integral role in the planning, execution and commencement of Agra Jail Radio. He has taken up the responsibility of managing and admissions of the IGNOU courses, encouraging and motivating inmates towards better education. He also helps teaching basic English and spoken English to the inmates. He has assisted the award winning journalist Tara* Kaushal to collect raw material and interviews from inmates lodged in Agra District Jail for a book titled, “Why Indian Men Rape”. The book authored by her is in the final stages of publication.  Currently, he is helping with academic research on the impact of jail radio and other forms of communication in Indian prisons.

Tuhina Saxena, a 29 year old IIM, Bangalore Post Graduate is an undertrial at the   District Jail, Agra. She has played a vital role in the establishment of Jail Radio. She encourages other inmates to participate in the radio programmes as well.

35 year old Kamlesh, a housewife, is now lodged in Firozabad District Jail. She gives exemplary support to her fellow women inmates in their times of illness and need. Her selflessness in their service is of such high order that without waiting for the staff, she unhesitatingly starts cleaning the toilets after the inmate’s use.

Yogeshwari, 22 years old, is convicted in the Central Jail, Bhopal, MP. A qualified psychologist, having done her M.A in Clinical Psychology, she has been in jail since 2016. She uses her time in jail positively and creatively, attempting to improve the life of the other female inmates. She has been teaching the young children who reside with their mothers in jail. She plays a keen role in motivating inmates towards education. Besides guiding them in spoken English, she is also helping the inmates take the Class X exam by teaching them Hindi, English, and Psychology. She is also very artistic and has a keen interest in Fine arts. She acts in plays and also does play writing and production. She also teaches the other inmates dance, singing and play acting. She also has a keen interest in poetry writing. She works as a para legal volunteer, making an effort to bring about awareness on the legal rights and helps with their legal requirements. With her training as a clinical psychologist she plays an important role in helping female inmates to handle stress.

Charan Singh, 28 years old, is convicted in Central Jail, Alwar, Rajasthan. A sub-inspector in CRPF, he has helped immensely the prison system by helping inmates to use jail calling system. Due to his initiative more than 700 inmates are using STD on a regular basis and get connected to their family members and legal advice. This has helped inmates to relieve their stress.

60 year old, Uttam Shantaram Potdar, has already spent more than 20 years in the Central Jail, Kolhapur, Maharashtra after being convicted by the Spl. TADA, Court. Besides doing the jail work allotted to him as Night Watchman, he has keenly involved himself in working with the prison administration and prison inmates to highlight the issues of the prison reforms and bringing about a positive change in the lives of the prison inmates. He is working as a Radio Jockey in the in-house jail radio called “FM Lai Bhari”, whereby he has composed many programs related to prison reforms. He works as a Yoga teacher, instructing prison inmates in Yoga. He also works as a Para Legal volunteer, whereby he helps prison inmates obtain guidance and assistance from the District Legal Service, Kolhapur. He also helps other inmates in filling up their forms. There are many inmates who languish in jail even after their sentence is complete or even after they have been granted bail because of a lack of finances. He works closely with an NGO called Samata Foundation in this regard.

Tinka Tinka Award for Prison Administrators

8 jail staff have been chosen this year for the Tinka Tinka Award for Prison Administrators. Out of these, 5 are from UP

Ranjit Kumar Singh is Superintendent of District Jail Banda. Under his guidance this jail has been selected amongst the best 5 jails of Uttar Pradesh and has been awarded by the UP Prison Administration. Working in close association with the inmates, de addiction programs have been successfully run and recently, the jail has become completely addiction free. At one time, the agricultural land of this jail could not yield crops and vegetables because of inadequate water, since tube- wells had never been successful in this area. Now, water recycling has been utilized very successfully, wherein water which is wasted after use by the inmates is recycled and used for agriculture in the jail. This has resulted in a record crop yield and as of today, the yield has been so much that the jail does not purchase potatoes for consumption in jail.

Santosh Kumar Verma, Deputy Jailor and PRO, Headquarters, Lucknow has encouraged art and creativity in prisons, organised an exhibition titled, ‘Kara Kriti’ in 2013 and started a library with the support of BIMTECH in Lucknow. Has given a new look to the Jail museum. He has also contributed to the education of inmates in Barabanki and Bahraich Prison.

B.S.Mukund, Jailor, Kaushambi has carried out extensive work towards the maintenance and beautification of the jail and in improving the quality of food. Health camps are regularly carried out, which include mental health camps. Training programs for inmates to learn new skills are regularly carried out. These include, training for Electrician, Sewing Machine operators for women inmates Dairy Farming and Vermi compost, and computer training for inmates.

In addition, 2 Jail staff have been selected from UP for bringing creativity into jails as teachers. Brajesh Kumar from District jail Mainpuri and Shabnam Nigar from Nari Bandi Niketan, Lucknow have been chosen for the same.

Samakant Chandrakant Shedge, Senior Jailor, Central Jail, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, started the Telemedicine facility for inmates, and initiated inmates’ interview through video conferencing. He was appointed as Special Officer on Terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab (Mumbai Terrorist Attack). He also organised Save Girl Child Program for inmates with the help of local school children. He has contributed in establishing the Jail Radio.

Surinder Pal Khanna, Superintendent, Central Jail, Kapurthala, Punjab, has been working keenly towards eradicating addiction problems in the jail. He started the OOAT Centre in the jail, where addicted inmates can be hospitalised. He personally counsels the inmates to help them overcome addictions. In order to engage the inmates physically, socially and spiritually, which helps inmates to deal with addictions, he has organised Yoga camps, Medical camps, Sport activities, Nukkad Nataks, which help bring about awareness about addictions. 

Bharat Lal Meena, is a Head Warder at the Central Jail, Alwar. He has played an exemplary role in encouraging the jail inmates to enrol in the Jail ITI, which provides vocational training programs for the inmates. He is also responsible for maintaining the jail Library.

Who is Dr. Vartika Nanda

Dr. Vartika Nanda is a prison reformer. She is the first Indian to initiate a continuous movement on prisons under the banner Tinka Tinka. The then President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, conferred the Stree Shakti Puraskar on her in 2014. Stree Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honour for women in India. Her name has also been included in the Limca Book of Records twice for her unique work on prison reforms. Currently, she teaches in the Department of Journalism, Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, India.

Contact: tinkatinkaorg@gmail.com / 9811201839