Telangana: Degrees for 381 prisoners

Hyderabad: The 21st convocation of Dr B.R. Ambedkar Open University was held here on Monday. During the ceremony held at the university campus candidates who qualified from 2013 to 2016 received their degrees, diplomas and certificates. 1,32,476 candidates have passed various examinations of the university.

As many as 96 research scholars were awarded M.Phil and PhD degrees at the convocation ceremony. Also 381 prisoners from Cherlapalli Central Prison, Rajahmundry Central Prison, Warangal Central Prison and Kadapa Central Prison received UG and PG degrees.

The university will focus on choice based credit system (CBCS) at the under graduate level from academic year 2017-18 and will also introduce new courses.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, the Chancellor, was scheduled to present M.Phil and PhD degrees, gold medals and prizes. But he couldn't attend due to engagements in New Delhi. Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon, Chancellor, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEP&A), New Delhi, awarded the degrees to students and delivered the convocation address.

They didn’t give up on life
Education is always available to those who are interested. This was once again proved by the prisoners of Cherlapalli, Rajahmundry and other central jails.

The prisoners who received degrees from Dr BR Ambedkar Open University on Monday at the university’s 21st convocation decided to give education a  try and 381 prisoners, including 30 women, took up the university’s courses. One of the students bagged a gold medal and four bagged special prizes.

P. Satyam Babu, a man who lost his youth behind bars, even though he was not the culprit in the rape and murder of 17-year-old Ayesha Meera of Vijayawada, received his BA degree on Monday.

Satyam Babu was in Hyderabad on Monday to receive his degree. He said, “'I lost my youth behind bars. I want to become a lawyer to fight for innocents so that no one becomes a victim like me. I wanted to start farming again. But my body won't allow me. So I am looking for a college to pursue law.” Satyam Babu was convicted by the Vijayawada women’s special sessions court in 2010 and was sentenced to life. The HC acquitted him on March 31.

G Yogender, 35, a prisoner from Kadapa Central Jail, bagged a gold medal in BA. “'I could not study. Now I have a degree and am looking forward to working so that I can support my family,” he said.