Telangana prisons receive award for inmate de-addiction programme

Telangana’s Prisons and Correctional Services Department has received the SKOCH Award–2026 for its NIVRUTTI de-addiction centres, a programme serving inmates across five prisons in the State. The award recognised the department’s rehabilitation-focused approach to substance dependence among prisoners. It was presented at the 109th SKOCH Summit — India Economic Forum at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

According to the department, 4,200 inmates were screened for substance-use concerns under the initiative. Of those, 2,126 underwent screening using the World Health Organisation’s ASSIST tool and received counselling and treatment support. A further 300 prisoners were followed up after their release.

The programme combines screening with counselling, treatment, behavioural support and rehabilitation, and is intended to maintain continuity of care as former inmates return to society. NIVRUTTI centres operate at Central Prison Hyderabad, Central Prison Cherlapalli, Central Prison Sangareddy, Central Prison Nizamabad and the Special Prison for Women in Hyderabad. The initiative is supported under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction.

Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra received the award. The department said an impact study by APCA, Vellore, was presented at an international corrections conference in Auckland. It also said some treated inmates had sought help with education, skills and careers after release, while one reportedly postponed bail to continue treatment.