KMV Organizes a One Day Health Camp in Kapurthala Jail

Counseling Provided to the Jail Inmates on Various Health Issues
Jalandhar, December 20, 2018: Kanya Maha Vidyalaya-The Autonomous and Heritage Institution, Jalandhar organized a one day health camp in collaboration with the District Legal Authority Kapurthala, during the monthly jail inspection by the District Session Judge Mr. Kishore Kumar. A general health check up of 160 female jail inmates was done by the members of the KMV Managing Committee, the leading doctors of the city. The faculty and the students of KMV interacted with the inmates providing basic counselling. At the outset Mr Kishore Kumar called upon the inmates to maintain hygiene and to also make use of the medical facilities provided in the camp with a promise that a follow up of medical issues will be taken up by the authorities.
Dr Satpal Gupta, member of KMV Managing Committee and a leading orthopaedic surgeon addressed the issues of the inmates. It was noticed that most of the women were having various joints pains and headaches. Dr Sushma Chawla and Dr Kamal Gupta also the members of the managing committee addressed various issues of women health. Dr Sandeep Dhawan, Dr Simmi Dhawan, Dr Gaurav Bhagat, Dr Abhishek Gill, Dr Deepali Luthra and Dr Darshan also looked into the various health problems of the inmates during the camp. Dr Monica Sharma, Director Gandhian Studies Centre, KMV, Dr Radhika Guota, Mrs Surbhi and Ms Nitya and students of the Psychology department also interacted with the jail inmates. They addressed various issues and provided the needed counselling to the inmates. It was a learning experience for all as the stories revealed during the sessions that while a few curtly acknowledged that they had committed a crime and that many had stories of false implications. While most of the jail inmates were illiterate, a few were educated and fluently conversed in English. It was observed that the root cause of their all ailments was the great stress they undergo. A visit into the living quarters of the inmates was an eye opener for all as it broke the general perception one has of a conventional jail with dingy and dark cells. The dormitories of the jail were very spacious and well ventilated.
It is important to mention that KMV is committed to the social upliftment under its various social outreach initiatives. Over the years the college has taken up the women issues in a big way. Under its women empowerment programme the college has vocationally trained over 3000 plus girls in the life skills like basic computers, fashion designing and cosmetology. With a number of success stories in this endeavour, the college has taken up the issue of women jail inmates.
Principal Prof. (Dr.) Atima Sharma Dwivedi averred that these type of social outreach activities is a part of the KMV culture as through these activities the teachers and students can collectively contribute to the upliftment of the under privileged strata of the society and can make a positive change in the lives of these people. She further said that KMV has been doing various social outreach activities from time to time in order to contribute to the Nation building.
The camp proved to be a huge success as almost all the inmates had turned up for the camp. Most importantly they were very happy to converse with the staff and students of the college because they felt that there was someone who was ready to lend an ear to their tales. During the camp Mr Sanjiv Kundhi, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dr Balwant Singh, Civil Surgeon Kapurthala, Ms Harpreet Kaur, Additional Civil Judge and Mr S.P.Khanna, Jail Superintendant and other jail authorities were also present.