A visually impaired inmate, an inmate on death row and two women have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to the prison environment this year by Tinka Tinka Foundation. 9th national Tinka Tinka India Awards, exclusive awards dedicated to prison reforms were announced by the Foundation on 9th December 2023, on the eve of Human Rights Day at District Jail, Gurugram, Haryana. Among this year’s winners are 56-year-old awardee Rajkumar Pal from UP’s District Jail, Shahjahanpur, under the special mention category. He is the oldest inmate to receive the prestigious award this year. The youngest awardee is 26-year-old Anil Surender Singh Yadav from Lajpore Central Prison, Surat.
Conceived in 2015 by prison reformer Dr. Vartika Nanda, the Tinka Tinka India Awards uniquely acknowledge creativity and humanity in India’s correctional facilities. Till date, they continue to be the solitary awards of their kind and have earned credibility and respect. The awards encompass three distinct categories viz., painting, special mention and jail administration. The award for painting every year has a pertinent thematic focus. This year’s theme was ‘Television in Jails,’ for which Tinka Tinka received hundreds of entries from jails across the country, including more than 35 submissions from women inmates. 11 inmates have been rewarded for their extraordinary paintings, while 5 inmates received honours under the ‘Special Mention’ category. Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards have been conferred upon 2 women inmates. Noteworthy contributions to prison reformation by 2 jail administrators were also acknowledged this year. The awards were formally released by Shri Mohammad Akil, DG Prisons, Haryana in District Jail, Gurugram.
The esteemed jury this year comprised Shri B.K. Upadhyay, IPS (retd.) and Former ADG Prisons, Maharashtra, Shri Sunil Kumar Singh, IPS (retd.), Former DG Prisons, Tamil Nadu, and Dr. Vartika Nanda, Founder, Tinka Tinka Foundation.
Awards for Painting
In this year’s edition, a total of 11 inmates have been recognised and celebrated for their exceptional creative talents in the painting category. Pradeep Rohilla (33), an undertrial at Delhi’s Tihar Jail since the past year, stood out and got the first prize. His thematic painting skillfully captures the role of television in bridging the information gap in India’s prisons. Arun Rana (32), another undertrial at District Jail, Ghaziabad since 2015, secured the second prize, while Solai Ganesan (42), a convicted inmate in Central Prison, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, earned the third prize.
Eight inmates lodged in prisons located at different parts of the country have been honoured with consolation prizes in the painting category. Anil Surender Singh Yadav (26), is the youngest awardee this year. The list also includes Babulal Parmar (46), Shubham Upadhyay (27), Ajit Singh (37), Netrapal Singh Lodhi (42), Shatruhan Gond, Dukhnasan Bariha (33) — who submitted an impressive set of four paintings — and Netai Bogi (35). Their collective contributions are a testimony to the diverse and remarkable artistic talent available within the prison community.
Special Mention
Special Mention category recognises exemplary contributions from inmates who come from diverse walks of life. Among those honoured is 56-year-old Ram Kumar Pal from District Jail, Shahjahanpur, who, despite failing eyesight, has dedicated the last 5-6 years to educating hundreds of inmates, fostering a positive environment. Jai Bhagwan, a 32-year-old convict from District Jail, Jind, has emerged as a source of motivation through his role as a jail radio jockey, creating music that motivates fellow inmates to improve their lives. Giri Raj, serving a life sentence in District Jail, Gurugram, has undergone a positive change over the past 5 years, contributing significantly to jail life by maintaining cleanliness and beautifying the surroundings as a skilled gardener.
Special mention has also been conferred upon Dr. Suchit Narang, a visually impaired inmate in District Jail, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, recognised for his exceptional work as a radio jockey, using his programmes to raise awareness about reformative activities. Para Toppo, aged 54, incarcerated in District Jail, Prothrapur, Port Blair, Andamans since 2010, who has participated actively in vocational training programmes, mastering various skills and contributing to the prison community by training fellow inmates in furniture making and weaving, has also been honoured under this category. These individuals have demonstrated resilience and a strong-willed commitment to bring about positive change in the face of unspoken challenges within prison walls.
Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards
Two women inmates have received the special Tinka Tinka Bandini Awards, which is the exclusive subset of awards for women within the Tinka Tinka auspices.. The awardees include Aarti Virendra, incarcerated at Tihar Jail, Delhi, since 2010, who stood out for her significant contribution to the Tinka Tinka Tihar project, where she played a key role as a writer. Aarti is carrying out the responsibility of librarian within the prison. Her creative endeavours include contributing to a published book and inspiring fellow inmates through her poetry. Another inmate, Sharmila Begum, detained at the Special Prison for Women in Vellore since 2011, showcased remarkable determination to transform her life. Aiming to excel through educational achievements, she completed several certificate courses and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Sharmila is currently pursuing her M.A., actively engages in prison-related tasks, provides legal support as a para legal volunteer, and encourages fellow inmates to embrace positive change through meaningful work and creative expression.
Awards for Outstanding Prison Administration
Two prison officials, selected from more than 20 pan-India entrants, have also been honoured for their outstanding contributions to prisoner welfare and prison administration. Rajendra Singh, the Superintendent of District Jail, Sonipat has been recognised for his exceptional efforts in enhancing the educational profile of inmates. He has organised literacy classes as well as university and technical education for over two thousand prisoners. Singh has also ensured the education of inmates’ children outside the prison and his initiative in setting up Tinka Jail Radio has doubly benefited prison community viz., both for education and entertainment. Another awardee, Chandrakant Rambhau Sangale, Jailor Grade-2 at Yerwada Central Prison, Pune, with over 23 years of service, has received many accolades in the past, including the Departmental Correctional Service Medal & Certificate. Sangale has been honoured for initiating various programmes for inmate reformation, focusing on skill development and industrial training and for facilitating the post-release employment opportunities through many collaborations with NGOs.
About Tinka Tinka India Awards
Each year the Tinka Tinka India Awards highlight the innovative and creative endeavours undertaken behind the bars, positively impacting the lives of prison inmates and contributing to the nation’s prison reform efforts. Over the course of the past 9 years, this one-of-its kind effort, has not only recognised the unsung contributions of numerous inmates and administrators but has also revitalised the cause of prison reformation in India. The thematic focus of the awards aligns with contemporary issues, with past themes such as ‘Telephones in Jail’ (2021) and ‘COVID-19 and Prisons’ (2020), capturing the realities, struggles, and aspirations of India’s incarcerated population, besides guiding them in their challenging ordeals behind the bars.
More about Tinka Tinka Foundation
Dr. Vartika Nanda, a media educator and prison reformer, is the founder of the Tinka Tinka Foundation, a movement that attempts to improve the lives of inmates lodged in different prison institutions. The President of India awarded her the Stree Shakti Puraskar in 2014 in recognition of her contributions to literature and the media. This award is the highest civilian recognition for women’s empowerment in India. Her name has been listed twice in the Limca Book of Records (2015 and 2017) for bringing fresh ideas to the realm of prison reforms that are connected to the creative manifestations of prisoners.
Tinka Jail Radio as a Tool of Communication
Dr. Vartika Nanda’s campaign under the Tinka Tinka banner has been recognised for having designed, trained and implemented prison radio in the jails of Haryana, District Jail Agra and Uttarakhand. She also runs the only podcast in India devoted to jail reforms, called Tinka Jail Radio. Based on her prolonged interaction with prisoners, Tinka Tinka has come up with three books which are regarded as masterpieces on prison life. Tinka Tinka Prison Research Cell is another wing that caters to action-oriented research on prisons.
