Prisons Department, Jammu & Kashmir
Jammu – J&K, March 12th 2020: A skit ‘Haalat’ on drug abuse and insomnia was performed today by artists of Navyug- Ek Nayi Umang at District Jail Jammu in presence of DGP, Prisons V. K. Singh, IPS with the aim of bringing awareness among inmates regarding ill-effects of drug abuse on the society and to highlight the Do’s & Don’ts for a sound sleep. The skit was performed by Theatre Artists-Aarti Devi, Avneet Singh, Anuj Chandel and Aditya Abiraj Singh under the tutelage of Sameena Kousar, Advocate, Theatre Artist and Social Activist who was briefed about CBT-I intervention held at Central Jail Jammu, Kotbhalwal/District Jail Jammu by the DGP Prisons and resource persons co-opted for the said intervention- Prof. (Dr.) Arti Bakhshi, Head Dept of Psychology, Jammu University and Dr. Piyali Arora, Assistant professor/ Clinical Psychologist, Government College for Woman, Parade.
The skit was a work of creativity, collaboration and research. It was highly impactful in conveying the message to the mixed audience of illiterate, semi-literate and literate inmates. Dr. M.S. Lone, DIG Prisons, J&K, Sh. Mirza Saleem Beig, Superintendent, District Jail Jammu, Amphalla, Ms. Saba Shawl, Staff Officer to DGP Prisons besides jail staff and inmates were present during the event.
Through this skit inmates who weren’t a part of the CBT-I intervention will get a chance to overcome sleep difficulties for better health. Theatre is a powerful tool for sensitizing people on issues that demand greater awareness and it is expected that this strategy of using the medium of theatre will facilitate the process so that the inmates of those jails where the sessions could not be taken would also undergo correctional process in attitude & behaviour and, hopefully, will be able to integrate better in the society on release. DGP appreciated the artists for their skills & contribution towards inmate reformation. He awarded them with commendation certificates& cash reward for their outstanding performance.