Vimochana - Society For The Welfare Of Prisoners

Background
Vimochana (meaning "liberation") is the AP unit of the Prison Ministry of India. The Prison Ministry operates in about 12 states in the country; Vimochana was set up in Hyderabad about 4 years ago by 2 sisters of the St. Ann's convent. The society assists the correctional wing of the Police Department of the state; with the aim of reducing crime in society (God knows we need it).

Activity
The society is guided by the "3Rs" - Release tension, Renewal and Rehabilitation of prison inmates. 5 volunteers from Vimochana visit about 4 jails each every Sunday, and spend their time counselling and imparting moral values to the inmates. The objective is to make their transition from prison to civil life a productive and reformed one.

Vimochana has permission to work in almost all prisons in the state, and is currently a 300-member strong society in AP.

Volunteer Opportunities
Visiting a prison is certainly not a glamorous job, so in case you would like to volunteer for Vimochana, please attend some of their weekly meetings first which are held every 3rd Saturday at 4.30pm.

Understandably, Vimochana prefers to work with Catholics, educationalists and other members of their community who are familiar with rehabilitation work. However, if you still wish to assist the cause, you could donate money, clothes and other material for the families of the prison inmates. Please note that foreign currency is not very welcome here.

Unlike what the movies show you, rehab is not a very alluring profession. Do not imagine a sunny office with a Freudian couch and a grey-bearded counsellor to boot. Vimochana's office is a matter-of-fact no-frills 2-room center in the St. Francis convent run by individuals to whom reformation is dead serious business.