Mysuru: A year-long workshop to transform the lives of prisoners through theatre, organised by Sankalpa Mysuru and Karnataka Prisons Department, began at Mysuru Central Jail premises in city yesterday.

The organisers arranged the training programme for 20 selected prisoners who are interested in theatre-related activities.

They provide training on various forms of theatre such as staging play, acting, dialogue delivery, sounds, music, dance, and lighting.

Apart from these, they will also teach prisoners about painting, drawing, face mask making and other arts. The organisers have already trained 20 prisoners to stage ‘Sangya Balya’ since the last two months.

Inaugurating the workshop, Folklore expert Prof. Kalegowda Nagawara appreciated the organisers for initiating this kind of workshop which would help transform the lives of the jail inmates apart from educating and entertaining them.

“This is the best opportunity for prisoners to gain benefits and broaden their outlook. Such workshops help change their behaviour and enable them to correct their mistakes.  Criminals are not born but they are made by the society,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mysuru Central Prisons Chief Jail Superintendent P.B. Ananda Reddy said the Government of Karnataka also conducts various kinds of workshops on formal and informal education for jail inmates for them to emerge as good citizens.

Sakleshpur-based theatre personality Prasad Rakshidi, Director of Sankalpa Hulugappa Kattimani, Bhadrappa, Radhakrishna and others were present.