The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated at the play ground within the premises of Central Jail at Colvale. The National Tricolor Flag was unfurled by the Shri. Ashutosh Apte, Additional Inspector General of Prisons holding additional charge of Superintendent of Prisons Central Jail, Colvale followed by singing of National anthem by the jail inmates.
The function was attended by the Jail Officers Shri. Chandrakant Harijan and Shri. Bhanudas Pednekar both Assistant Superintendents, Shri Umesh Sawant, Mahesh Phadte, Krishna Usgaonkar, Mukund Gawas, Jailors, Nau Pavne and Vilas Parab and other Assistant Jailors, Head Guards and Jail Guards.
Police Inspector of Indian Reserve Battalion Shri. Amit Borkar and his team gave Shastra Salaami to the National Flag. The Parade included the team of Escort Police, Ladies IRBn, Security Guards of Goa Human Resource Development Corporation and Home Guards.
85 undertrial prison inmates and 40 convict prison inmates actively attended and participated in the function.
Addressing the gathering Shri. Ashutosh Apte mentioned that on attaining freedom from foreign yoke the task of governing the widely spread nation with varied differences in language, multiple customs and diversified traditions was a big challenge. The Constitution makers have very skillfully drafted the Constitution so as to keep unity in this diversified citizens. He further added that the Jail is administered in pursuance to the Prison Act, Rules and other guiding manual and principles. Now the prison administration has undergone a paradigm shift from punitive to reformatory custody of people involved in the crimes. The main focus is to make person in jail transformed into a socially acceptable individual. And in this context and in view of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi’s call for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant’s call for Swayampurna Goa, the jail administration is riding on a very ambitious mission of Atmanirbhar Jail.
He further informed all that this project mission has 23 aspects which mainly include rain water harvesting, non-conventional / solar energy conservation and utilization, medicinal and other revenue generating plantations, commercial manufacturing of bakery, carpentry and tailoring items, setting up of Goshala and Dairy farming amongst others.
Shri. Apte further informed that under this mission every single desiring hand will get a work which would earn them wages and remission in sentences. It will also make them a socially acceptable human being by learning a livelihood earning skill through various in house activities. However he also impressed upon all to maintain proper discipline and act as per rules and regulations, may it be inmate prisoners or the uniform officials.
The inmate A. K. Jayakumara on behalf of all jail inmates assured full support of every one for the mission of Atmanirbhar Jail, while he was doing a compeering for the entire function as good as a professional artist.
A small cultural program was also held wherein the inmates viz. Babi Fale, Ramesh Bagve, Vilas Kunkalkar, Ankush Gaude, Pandurang Pednekar sang a Marathi patriotic song, followed by Shri. Vithal Gawas, Jailor. Shri. Vishnudas Parab and Shri. Prakash Nagvekar, Music teacher at Central Jail were accompanist for both the songs.
An inmate Shri. Amit Kumar Das @ Mithun also gave a speech in Bollywood style which was well appreciated by all present for the function.