From that tender age when memories first begin to take shape, Jiji Mary, 35, had a deep connection with the story of Veronica, the woman who, moved by seeing Jesus carrying the cross, gave him her veil to wipe his forehead. Little did Jiji know that, when she grew up, she would become a Veronica-like figure, empathetically listening to and changing the perspectives of many convicted humans.
Rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society are crucial but often overlooked aspects of the Indian criminal justice system. On September 15, 2017, the Supreme Court directed all state governments to appoint counsellors to assist prisoners, particularly first-time offenders. A major reason for the order was the increasing number of unnatural deaths and suicides in jails. However, according to prison statistics in 2021, twelve states/Union territories had no sanctioned posts for correctional officers. The ones that did were not much better off. The Kerala government, for instance, employs a few social workers, such as Jiji, on low-paying contracts to provide counselling and even perform primary psychiatric evaluations in prisons.
Jiji has a master’s in social work with a specialisation in medicine and psychiatry. Her work includes rehabilitating sex workers, providing support to drug users and conducting screening programmes in collaboration with the Kerala State AIDS Control Society.
“It was during a Kudumbashree (a statewide women’s self-help group) project [in 2017] that I first had the opportunity to work in a jail setting―at Hosdurg sub-jail,” she says. “Several inmates lacked support from family in securing bail, and, in some cases, the families refused to accept them back even if they were granted bail. In such situations, we assumed the role of mediators and caretakers.”
In 2020, Jiji moved to Thiruvananthapuram to pursue a law degree; once there, she saw a notification inviting counsellors for all the central prisons in the state. “I attended the interview and got the first rank, but because of Covid and a few other issues, the process was delayed,” she says. “Finally, by 2022, I began working there (Poojappura jail) on a daily basis.”
Jiji became the first regular counsellor to work at the central prison―which houses hardened criminals, mostly men―with a specific focus on the mental health of the convicts.
Working inside a central prison requires courage and conviction, especially for a woman counsellor. Curious eyes would scan her from head to toe every day. “I felt uncomfortable dealing with this during the initial days,” says Jiji. “But it stopped bothering me. Certainly, for some of the prisoners, the curiosity stems from the fact that they have been living without any contact with women. However, for many others, it is almost a relief to see someone who is not a police officer entering jail. Some of them have even said that they attend counselling sessions just to see a genuine smile.”
Jiji does, however, say that one has to expect threats, too. Many inmates, for instance, show no remorse for their actions, even after spending years in jail. “In some cases, when I identified the need for medication, I referred them to psychiatrists,” she says.
Since the start of 2022, Jiji has counselled more than 350 convicted criminals in Poojappura jail. “There is the risk of transference, where individuals in therapy redirect their feelings towards someone else, including their therapist,” she says. “To mitigate this risk, I made sure that my personal details were not shared with any of them.”
She wound up her stint at Poojappura jail when she got her law degree, but she continues to hold free group therapy sessions at various jails. “Having knowledge of the law is highly beneficial when working in this field,” she says. “I want to establish a centre to support those who have been released from jail, especially those who are mentally unstable or have been rejected by their families.”
A CHANGE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
“The inclusion of counsellors in all correctional facilities, including sub-jails, is imperative due to the mental distress inmates often face. While legal aid clinics are accessible, the presence of counsellors helps spread awareness about these resources and fosters a peaceful environment. Appointing counsellors is highly advantageous in decreasing suicide rates.”