Tihar Jail, the world's largest prison, in terms of population (housing nearly 10, 000 inmates at a time), during 1993 - 95 is also known, as the Central Prison of Delhi. It houses (in separate enclosures), women prisoners along with their male counterparts. Serving a Prison term (whatever the reason may be), is a very traumatic experience for one and all. It becomes all the more harrowing for women.

In India, a woman Prison inmate can keep her child, with her, in prison, till the child reaches the age of five. Thus, one can only imagine how distressing it must be for women who have children, with them in Prison, or outside; living either with family or in some Government Remand Home.

Dr Kiran Bedi with kids in  IVF NURSERY SCHOOL IN TIHAR

These women are separated from their loved ones and have long hours to fill. In most Indian prisons, the conditions within the cell are not only appalling but the over crowding is rampant and even considered normal. Many women are imprisoned for long periods. Their self-confidence is virtually non-existent. India Vision Foundation, after research, concluded that it was imperative to impart training and skills to these women in Prison. The skills learnt in Jail, would not only help them gain financial independence after their release, but it would also go a long way in restoring their dignity, self confidence and utilizing their time constructively.India Vision Foundation, in collaboration with its sister concern, Navjyoti, has been supporting the Vocational Training projects inside the Tihar Jail in New Delhi, with a view to provide the inmates, a skill, that will help in their rehabilitation on their release from imprisonment. The inmates are compensated for their efforts in weaving tapestries and coasters etc.
IVF has been running a Crèche for children, staying along with their mothers in prison. The crèche provides developmental and nutritional support to the kids. They are educated, loved, nurtured, pampered and allowed to play and live as children, away from congested cells and other adult convicts. As these children, are not allowed to stay with their mothers, once they reach the age of five, India Vision Foundation, identifies such children and places them in its Crime Home Children project.

IVF NURSERY SCHOOL IN TIHAR PROJECT    :      ( Slide Show ) :   

              'B'day Celebrations'. 

 IVF NURSERY SCHOOL IN TIHAR Children Picnic ( New Slide Show ): 

The Crèche Project started as one of the many activities being part of the jail reform process in 1993/94, in which NGOs came inside the Tihar Jail and assisted the jail authorities to conduct activities such as crèche, training and other income generating activities.

India Vision Foundation, identified an urgent need to focus more on the children, who were in jail with their mothers or in a few cases with their fathers. The children earlier would spend their entire day, locked up in congested, over crowded cells, along with their mothers and other prisoners; many of who, were criminals in the true sense of the word. A full day Care Center was needed for these children. A Crèche, where the children could learn and play and spend the entire day, just with other children, in an environment that was congenial for their growth and well being. In the Crèche, attention to the child's diet, health, and over all development, was and is considered top priority. Some children are born inside the prison itself and are virtually unaware of life outside the four walls of the prison. Therefore the crèche has a very crucial role to play in the holistic development of these children. The Crèche Project, aims at offering these children, emotional, mental and physical well being.

"Recently a study comparing the children of our creche with children from an upmarket creche in South delhi was conducted.
It was hypothesized that ‘the SES(socio-economic status), income level of parents and environment has an impact on the socialcompetence level of children’. At both the sites, participatory observation was undertaken by the investigator and based on them the California preschool social competence scale was rated. Interactions with the authorities concerned especially
the teachers, further helped to gain an insight into the ‘background of the child’. The findings of this study did not support the hypothesis. The researcher concluded that factors like duration and quality of day care may have played a big role for the resulting conclusion. This is definitely a great achievement for us!"

Celebrating Birthday Dr. Bedi, Pam Hudson, with kids in IVF NURSERY SCHOOL IN TIHAR celebrating a Birthday.	Fun at Mc Donald Children out for picnic with Kamini

WEAVING BEHIND BARS PROJECT:  ( Slide Show )

For every prisoner, whatever the reason of arrest may be, life within prison is a traumatic and a depressing experience. They are separated from their loved ones and their self worth and level of confidence is virtually non existent.

Many women are imprisoned for long periods. India Vision Foundation, after research, concluded that it was imperative to impart training and skills to these women in Prison.

The weaving project is an activity that equips the women inmates with an entrepreneurial skill. The skills learnt in Jail, would not only help them gain financial independence after their release, but it would also go a long way in restoring their dignity, self confidence and utizing their time constructively.

Most of the women not only learn to weave, but after a while, they become skilled weavers and then impart their weaving techniques to the new comers.

The aim of the project is also to give the inmates, the power and a mode of self-expression. They put their thoughts, hopes and dreams down into weaving and the end product is breath taking. Their work is sold in various exhibitions.

Through this project the women are given an opportunity to earn a little money. Each inmate is paid a daily wage. The money is deposited in their internal Bank Account in Tihar Jail. These women can withdraw their money whenever they desire.

Some of the women inmates in Indian Prisons have their children, staying with them, till the child reaches the age of five. India Vision Foundation, along with its Sister Concern, Navjyoti, was the first NGO to initiate welfare programs for women and children in Tihar Jail. The crèche-cum-training program was started by India Vision Foundation (IVF), by taking professional help from Mobile Crèche, an NGO, whose staff has helped, train a number of women inmates in Tihar Prison, as Crèche workers. The crèche program concentrates on improving the nutrition and health (emotional, physical and mental), of the children of Tihar inmates.

Upon successful completion of the Training Program, the inmates are awarded certificates, which help them seek employment after their release.

BOTTLE COVER MAKING PROJECT : ( Slide Show )

This project is the brainchild of Ms. Diane Prasad and Ms. Elizabeth Truenit. Originally this vocational training activity was carried out in the slums of Yamuna Pushta. Starting with a few girls from the slum, the Bottle Cover making Project gained recognition with the foreigners, especially during the festival period of Christmas & New Year. These bottle covers made of the finest tissue material, with all its finery found popularity with the foreigners, who would present their family/friends with wine/champagne bottles inside these beautiful covers.

Coupled with the marketing style of Ms. Diane Prasad, who introduced new decoration items to beautify her bottle covers, by using various types of material, this project became a huge success. Encouraged by the phenomenal response, Diane decided to start the same project inside Tihar Prison, where she worked as a volunteer. As popularity and demand picked up, the inmates grew more and more proficient and deft in sewing these bottle covers. The end products were so fine, that Diane decided to concentrate on the project here in Tihar and thus it became one of the most reputed projects of India Vision Foundation.