Director General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh reportedly inaugurated the CJ (Colvale Jail) store at the Indian oil retail outlet near KTC bus stand in Panaji on Tuesday. Handicrafts, pottery and carpentry items made by the Colvale jail inmates will be sold at the store. It is learnt that this is a first-of-its-kind store in Goa and that many more stores will be opened in the state in due course.
It must be said that jail inmates need to be encouraged to take up creative work while serving their sentence that would help in their reform and rehabilitation after release. Studies have shown that art can help those struggling with issues of self-worth, confidence and empowerment. Research suggests a strong linkage between the development of the right brain and art which in turn, leads to higher thinking skills and greater emotional self-regulation. It is through hard work that these inmates learn the value and satisfaction of completing projects once started. Artistic processes can provide a way to deal with potentially destructive feelings such as anger and aggression. It is for this reason that prison arts programs have been found to positively impact the inmates and need to be encouraged. It could also include singing, playing musical instruments, dancing and even writing poetry.
