Hyderabad, July 21 -- Dr B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani has called for prisons to be transformed into centres of learning and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

He made this appeal while speaking at an Orientation Programme on Legal Rights and Personality Development held at the Cherlapally Central Prison on Sunday. The event was part of the G. Ram Reddy Memorial Activities (GRAMA), organised by the Prof. G. Ram Reddy Centre for Research and Development.

Prof. Chakrapani said the goal of such programmes is to bring positive changes in inmates' lives. He announced that prisoners enrolled in BRAOU courses would receive free textbooks and be exempted from all fees.

He also suggested the ...