This could, well, be another ?freedom? rendition of Elvis Presley?s quintessential 50s? rock song, Jailhouse Rock. The prisons come alive with music that personifies youthful rebellion, and voices ring in the good old times. It suddenly becomes one big ?party? as the cell blocks reverberate with melodies requested by its inmates.
Delhi?s high-security Tihar Jail has opened a new chapter in its over 55 years of existence as a ?correctional institution? with a brand new FM radio station, its very own and a first in the country. Called ?TJ FM?, the radio station is being operated by three undertrials who are languishing in jail for up to one-and-a-half years now and are awaiting judgement.
The initiative has already started showing results in just a little over a month of its launch. ?We have observed that the inmates often try to get involved in illegal activities. This venture will keep them gainfully occupied,? says an official of the jail that is considered to be the largest in south Asia. ?Moreover, once the inmates are out, they can even earn a livelihood by becoming RJs (radio jockeys),? says Navin Kumar Saxena, superintendent of Central Jail No 4. The jail authorities are also planning to give the RJs a certificate once they leave the jail premises.
The full team of ?TJ FM? comprises 15 members, besides the RJs, who carry out operations like editing and quality control, among others. Launched in the last week of July, the channel is being aired across the detention barracks of Central Jail No 4 from a small room within the prison complex.
To train the inmates in the art of radio jockeying, the prison authorities had roped in Santosh Rao, a former radio jockey, who trained them for over a month. After auditioning and training the inmates, Rao selected three candidates?Virender Singh, Shahzad and Sooraj?who are now the voices behind ?TJ FM?.
After the channel went on air, the jail authorities have been seeing a marked improvement in the behaviour of the inmates. ?Ever since the FM channel was launched,? says Saxena, ?there has been a sea-change in the atmosphere of the jail. The inmates keep auditioning for the next day?s programme in their free time, and this, in turn, keeps them engaged and away from nefarious/illegal activities.? We are now contemplating on relaxing their jail term if they show some good behaviour, adds Saxena.
To make the channel more creative, the jail authorities are planning to introduce some new concepts on ?TJ FM?. ?We have a qualified doctor in our jail who has over 25 years of experience. He is ready to give tips on topics like depression every Sunday. However, we need to verify a few things before airing him live. We are also in the process of getting the community radio licence so that we can air ?TJ FM? on Sundays throughout the country,? says Saxena.
The inmates, too, are happy with the programme. ?I?ve been lodged in the jail for the last one-and-a-half years, and I used to be depressed all the time. However, after becoming an RJ, I don?t get the time to think otherwise. It also gave me an opportunity to prove myself,? says Virender.
The three RJs take over the control room of Central Jail No 4 every afternoon between 12 and 3 pm. However, at most times, they have to keep it running till 4 pm so as to complete all the requests. The jail authorities have kept a suggestion box in every ward so that other inmates can send in their requests to the RJs.
Talking about his new ?job?, Vijender explains: ?We start our day early so that we can complete our recording. It is then edited and checked for any inappropriate content.? We present each song with a story so that the offering is nice and finds a ready listener in the inmates, he adds.
What?s more, the new job may even attract some money for the RJs, if prison officials are to be believed. ?For every work that a inmate does in the jail, we have a remuneration. It?s R99 per day for a skilled worker. Though we haven?t started giving anything to the RJs so far, the scene may change very soon,? says Saxena.
Meanwhile, the Tihar Jail administration has started a ?khadi unit? or ?Charkha Khand? (spinning wheel unit) in the complex. The unit has started manufacturing jute bags and has inked an agreement with the National Jute Board in Kolkata. ?We have started commercial production of jute bags and are selling them at Tihar Haat. With the help of an NGO, we are also running courses for budding electricians and plumbers. These inmates, in turn, help us in repair works within the jail complex. We will give them a certificate, too, when they leave the jail,? adds Saxena.