Govind: a journey of training and rebirth
In 2013, a door opened inside the prison walls. Representatives from India Vision Foundation arrived with programs designed not just to keep people busy, but to help them grow. At first, Govind stood apart from it all, unsure whether anything could truly change. But as he watched others dance, sing, paint, and participate with energy and confidence, something began to stir within him. For the first time in a long while, he felt a quiet pull toward possibility.
Dance had always lived somewhere inside him, dating back to childhood. So, he stepped forward.
That one step became the beginning of a long and meaningful transformation. He began taking part in dance, painting, jute bag making, hair cutting, self-awareness sessions, and personal development activities. Each program added something new to his life. Each class taught him discipline, patience, expression, and self-confidence. What had once been dormant slowly began to come alive again.
Among the many people he met during this phase, Mr. Ravi Kumar Srivastava became a turning point in his life. Talking with him felt natural and familiar, as though he were speaking with someone from his own family. His support and presence gave him strength and direction at a time when he needed both.
Then came another life-changing opportunity: computer education. Under our program deployed with India Vision Foundation in 2014–15, he learned basic computer skills. What may seem ordinary to others became extraordinary for him. He discovered that learning could open a new path, and that even behind prison walls, the future could still be built one step at a time.
He did not stop with the course. He kept practicing whenever he could. If peer leaders or trainers were unavailable, he would request permission from the warden to work on Excel and Word. He was determined not to let the opportunity slip away. He wanted not just to learn, but to master the skill. That commitment changed him. It gave him confidence, structure, and, more importantly, hope.
When he was released in 2016, he walked out with a new sense of purpose. He carried with him the training, discipline, and belief that had been built slowly through those years of learning. He reconnected with India Vision Foundation. With the encouragement of Mr. Ravi Kumar Srivastava and Ms. Monica Dhawan, Director of India Vision Foundation, he was given the opportunity to work as a trainer in the Faridabad Jail project. It was not just a job. It was a chance to pass on what had been given to him.
He worked with dedication and, over time, was promoted to Coordinator. That moment meant everything to him. It was a reflection of trust, growth, and rebirth.
Later, he also served as Coordinator for our “Digital Unify” program. Through this role, he continued to support the development of digital skills and help create opportunities for others inside correctional facilities.
Today, he manages and monitors digital skill programs in multiple locations in collaboration with us.
Earlier this year he visited our office in Greater Noida, where he was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation and a token prize by Ms. Chhavi Bajpai, our ST Foundation India Director, and Mr. Kamal Deep Jain, for being selected as the winning Communication Ambassador from India. It was a proud reminder of how far a person can travel when given the right opportunity.
My journey is proof that with the right opportunity, guidance, and trust, anyone can rebuild their life and create a meaningful future.
Govind
India Vision Foundation
India Vision Foundation was established in 1994 when the first female police officer of India, Dr. Kiran Bedi, was conferred with the Ramon Magsaysay Award (equivalent to Asia’s Nobel Prize) for forging ‘positive relationships’ between people and the police through creative leadership during her tenure as Inspector General of Tihar Prison, Asia’s largest prison. We seek to carry forward its service in all those areas which were the basis of the award, namely police and prison reforms, and women empowerment. India Vision Foundation has been working for the welfare of prison inmates and their children.