Now, former prisoners turn marketing execs

HYDERABAD: To address the issue of stigma attached to former convicts earning their livelihood after their jail term, Telangana prisons department organised a ‘Job Mela-2018’ at State Institute of Correctional Administration at Chanchalguda on Saturday. And, 155 for mer prisoners bagged jobs, including marketing executive ones.
“Prisoners are branded as criminals even after they are rehabilitated.There is less or no support from family or society, while companies refuse to give them jobs. We want to help these former convicts build their lives again and earn so that they are not pushed into doing crimes. Several ex-prisoners contacted us seeking help in getting a job,” inspector general of prisons A Narasimha said.
Twelve companies, including Karvy, HDFC and G4 Security, participated in the mela with around 230 prisoners (both former convicts and undertrials) from 31 districts attending the programme.
“We have recruited 15 people as data entry operators and tele-callers,” said K Raju, HR of Karvy. Sai Security Services Pvt Ltd has recruited 50 former convicts as security guards. According to prison officials, 155 former prisoners were recruited, including as marketing executives.