SOCIETY

Bhopal inmates get astrology lessons

     Bhopal: The Bhopal Central Jail has begun astrology courses for its inmates, as officials believe that it would give some respectability to them as and when they are freed. "The prisoners are being trained to become astrologers so that they can now predict the future of others and also earn respect of the society. They are being taught palmistry, preparing horoscopes and predicting good and bad omens," said Purushottam Som Kunwar, the superintendent of the jail. The idea of teaching astrology to the prisoners was to help them get over the stigma of being jailed, Kunwar added. The inmates learn to prepare horoscopes, palmistry and other astrological predictions from experts. Convicts such as Amit Dubey are now looking forward to making the horoscopes of the jail authorities. Experts believe that astrology could help improve the mental makeover of prisoners and help them to lead a reformed life. Several universities are also providing distance education to prisoners at the graduate and post-graduate level. Model jails in Madhya Pradesh have facilities for prisoners to take up vocational courses like masonry, videography, digital photography, bio-fertiliser production, screen-printing, and armature winding, besides others.
-June 6, 2007    

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