Designer rakhis from Tihar Jail

With a gleam in her usually calm eyes, 40 year old Parvathi, busies herself in crafting rakhis filled with a feeling of forgiveness for her brother because of whom she has been languishing behind bars for the past 10 years. Parvathi (name changed) is among the 30 inmates who are participating in a three-month long designer rakhi-making workshop organised at the high security Tihar jail here.

This Holi, play with edible gulal made in Tihar Jail

Edible colours handmade by women inmates of the Tihar Jail are set to be sold in different parts of Delhi.

A group of 20 woman inmates at Tihar's Jail no 6 are using herbal raw materials like flowers to make dry colours (gulal) which will be sold at specified centres in the capital.

"We have used arrowroot powder and flower petals alongwith food grade colour and natural fragrances to make colours that are purely skin friendly and even eatable," says Vishalanand, spokesperson Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS), an NGO which has been working with inmates for over 15 years.

To make a quick buck, some manufacturers adulterate the colours with diesel, chromium iodine, engine oil, copper sulphate, and glass powder (to add sheen), which is known to cause nausea, headache, breathlessness among other ailments, say medical experts.

"Making of colours in the women's ward of the prison is an attempt to provide inmates some source of income. The project is not a permanent one and will end a few days before Holi," says Sunil Gupta, Public Relations Officer, Tihar Jail.

Inmates who are given training to make the colours are commissioned to produce 10,000 packets of 100 grams each of purely herbal dry colour, which will be put up for sale.

"The proceeds from the sale of the products would go into the Prisoners' Welfare Fund," adds Gupta.

Vishalanand says, "Packaging of the colours will be done at par with the international standards and they will be put on sale at a mall in Rajouri Garden and Delhi Haat. The colours would be available at counters outside the Jail also."

"We have also approached a few corporate houses to put up the colours on sale in stalls inside their premises," he says.

Inmates, all women mostly in their late 30s or early 40s say they are enthusiastic about the whole exercise.

"We want to tell the world that adulteration of Holi colours can prove injurious to health," says an inmate, who is referred to as "Baby" by fellow inmates.

Other initiatives at the high security jail include an exhibition for the inmates by celebrity fashion designer Sanjana Jon, who even came out with a range of outfits for them.

Choreographer Shiamak Davar recently conducted a workshop for 100 inmates.


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Zee TV
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NDTV:
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Times Of India:
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Hindustan Times:
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Press Trust of India:
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Deccan Herald:
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Indian Express:
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World News:
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Chennai Online:
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Samachar.com
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USA Today:
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Headlines India:
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Indian Express epaper
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Antarkranti- prisoners' reformation and rehabilitation

It is a challenge to deal with people having criminal records. The confines of a jail can at times develop severe personality disorders in an individual. With the result, they become a greater threat to society. A physical sentence may not change the inclination of an individual towards the world of crime. With these realities and the objective of crime prevention, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) during the last 14 years has spread its wings to more than 21 Jails across the length and breadth of India to mould the thought process of prisoners and

Antardrishti- welfare program for visually & physically impaired

The major challenge that disabled people face is that of unemployment. Disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) employment amongst the disabled has fallen from 43% in 1991 to 38% in 2002. Under the Antardrishti program, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) is working towards creating avenues and opportunities for people with special needs.

Over 40 million people in the world are blind, and another 120 million suffer with diminished vision which cannot be corrected, cured or treated by conventional refraction, medicine or surgery. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), these figures are expected to double by 2020. Over 90% of these people live in developing countries like India, and less than 15% have access to vision enhancement or vision rehabilitation services that can help change their lives. The major challenge that disabled people face is that of unemployment. Disabled adults have far lower employment rates than the general population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) employment amongst the disabled has fallen from 43% in 1991 to 38% in 2002.


Under the Antardrishti program, DJJS is working towards creating avenues and opportunities for the people with special needs. Currently, the program is focused on people with visual impairment through the following initiatives:
Provide them with training in order to capture their creative energy and vocational skills. This empowers them to work constructively and contribute towards productive activities, helps them attain their self-respect and become financially independent
Awakening the spiritual self, which connects them with their eternal self and helps re-establish individual identities. This in itself is an imperative step that helps them transform from a dependent state to being an able human
Early detection of visual ailments in children for the prevention of permanent visual disability
The organization helps to enhance ability and skills of handicapped individuals and to generate employment for them with appropriate working conditions. Under this program, units have been set up for manufacturing eco-friendly candles and herbal soaps. The proceeds from the sale of these products are duly ploughed back for expansion of welfare activities for people with special needs.


The handicapped workers having found their dignity and pride, feel deeply interested in other program. They are given training in vocal and instrumental music as well. They have organized their own orchestra and give performances of soul-stirring devotional songs.




The organization's counseling and spiritual sessions are specially customized to accommodate their requirements. This provide them a platform where feelings of equality and brotherhood are cultivated, special care is taken to motivate and stir their inner creativity to enable them to be able citizens of the society.
The organization has released its spiritual publications in brail for the visually impaired to read through, and explore the depths of spirituality.


Set up in 2008, the following are few acclaimed achievements of the Antardrishti project:


Distinguished winner for Stall of the Year (First Prize) at the Gandhi Jayanti Mela, Pragati Maidan, held between 2nd to 4th October, 2008














Winner Stall at Krishi Vigyan Mela, Indian Agriculture Research Institute, Pusa, 23rd to 26th February, 2009


Road Ahead
A wider range of products will be manufactured by handicapped workers, and made available for sale at various sales outlets pan India
Increase the reach of the program so that more people can benefit from such initiatives
Spread awareness of the program in India and other countries; involve students from schools and colleges
Generate wider employment opportunities for this sections of society