Empowering Voices, Changing Narratives: The Impact of Kissa Khaki Ka and Tinka Tinka Jail Radio

By Ishita Kisku, Lady Shri Ram College For Women.

Sandeep Shahi: The Helmet Man of Delhi

Sandeep Shahi, a Delhi Police constable, decided to give out helmets to people on Raksha Bandhan in 2015 after observing the rise in accidents caused by people who are negligent and don’t wear them. Since then, he has given helmets to people on all significant occasions and has used a rap song to advocate for road safety and the value of wearing helmets in Delhi and around his home town. Awarded the Mahindra Excellence Award in 2018, he is popularly referred to as the “Helmet Man” in Delhi and has distributed over 11,000 helmets.

Click : Kissa Khaki Ka – Helmet Cop https://youtu.be/-JFlZcDW6ZY?si=ucdP8xYAsjfTPMbf

Balbeer Kumar : From Prisoner to Mentor

Following his release from Bilaspur Jail in Chhattisgarh in 2020, Balbeer Kumar period of incarceration had a profound impact on his life. He took part in National  Tinka Tinka India Awards painting competition and won the first prize in  in the year 2016. His perspective on life and the way other prisoners perceived him were both altered by this award. He vowed to himself that he would help the other inmates improve their skills, learn how to paint, and assist them in becoming better versions of themselves. He currently teaches painting to underprivileged kids in a village in Bilaspur. He established a wing of Tinka Jail Paathshala in Central Jail, Bilaspur and honed painting skills of several inmates, before he got released.

Click: Tinka Tinka Jail Radio-Episode 84 https://youtu.be/auNu8jgzeUQ?si=3mH_zZ5L93_Rttsm

Both Kissa Khaki Ka and Tinka Tinka Jail Radio are the only podcasts in India that are exclusive to their respective domains. Kissa Khaki Ka is run by the Delhi Police and features their experiences and stories, whereas Tinka Tinka Jail Radio is run by Tinka Tinka Foundation. Tinka Jail Radio podcasts cater to  jail inmates and works to improve the environment of the prisons, by engaging inmates constructively. This is part of Tinka Jail Paathshala, further cementing the role of education in jails.

Click : Kissa Khaki Ka 1 year Journey https://youtu.be/WzW_AResJog?si=54qBfkUGab9atgg7

Tinka Tinka Foundation was established to support prison administrators and inmates through the promotion of art, culture, literature, and the media in order to contribute to prison reforms. These initiatives have helped in giving a new identity to inmates, encouraging them for their positive growth.

Kissa Khaki Ka – Bridging the Gap Between Police and Public

Since its founding on January 16, 2022, Kissa Khaki ka has worked to close the divide that exists between the general public and the police.   Kissa Khaki Ka I Ep100। Parde ke peeche ke kirdar। Delhi Police | वर्तिका नन्दा | Vartika Nanda (youtube.com) The only police department with a regular podcast of its own is Delhi Police, which releases it every Sunday at 2:00 pm on all of its social media channels. Narrated by renowned prison reformer and media educator Dr. Vartika Nanda, it includes stories of solving cybercrimes, kidnapping, murder and also stories of humanity. These podcasts are produced under the direction of DCP, PRO Suman Nalwa. Vartika Nanda is the official storyteller and the voice of Delhi Police.

The purpose of these stories is to introduce the general public to these heroes who are typically overlooked. Kissa Khaki Ka’s launch in 2022 marked the global debut of a new podcast genre and the idea that humanity will continue to flourish as long as we continue to serve and cherish it.  Kissa Khaki Ka began under the leadership of Shri Rakesh Asthana, then Commissioner of Police, Delhi and has taken a new leap under the leadership of Shri Sanjay Arora, the present police commissioner.

Click : Kissa Khaki Ka: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLumpaUG9lDWcplwNFpyh54-e3pUTFzxDf&si=aVPKcKIbJAyWpOdO

Tinka Tinka Jail Radio – Amplifying Inmate Voices

Tinka Tinka Jail Radio, run by the Tinka Tinka Foundation, completed 85 episodes by the end of March 2024, and is divided into two categories: Tinka Jail Radio and Tinka Jail News. Tinka Jail radio in produced in-house by the jail inmates and consumed by the inmates of that jail. Inmates work as radio jockeys, writers, and singers, among other things, and have the opportunity to display their skills through this platform. These inmates are trained by Tinka Tinka Foundation and are broadcast on Foundation’s YouTube channel. The stories reach both the inmates’ families and the general public. Tinka Tinka Radio is committed to healing, fostering creativity, positive change, and integrating prisoners into the process of building the nation. It seeks to change societal perceptions of prisoners and bring inmates’ contributions to the attention of the world.

Click: Tinka Tinka Foundation and BRUT: Panipat Jail Radio Revolution। तिनका जेल। Brut। Year 2022। Tinka Tinka Foundation। Vartika Nanda (youtube.com)

Tinka Tinka Foundation (TTF), a trust dedicated to prison reforms, formed by Vartika Nanda. It has also  established Tinka Prison Research Cell. The purpose of the Tinka Prison Research Cell (TPRC) is to advance prison-related research and specifically study the role of prison radio in improving prison atmosphere.. With their unique content, the Kissa Khaki Ka and Tinka Tinka Jail Radio podcasts are dedicated to sharing the experiences of those who are often disregarded by society. Fact that the content is more well-liked and admired internationally than by Indian audiences, on the other hand, is unexpected.

Link : Tinka Prison Research Cell – Tinka Prison Research Cell – Tinka Tinka Prison Reforms