Mangaluru
During the silver jubilee celebrations of the Prison Ministry India (PMI) Mangaluru unit, released prisoners Shekar Shetty and Jaison shared their experiences of being distanced by families and friends after their imprisonment.
Shetty recounted being separated from loved ones after an incident that led to his imprisonment. PMI helped him start a tailoring shop after his bail. Before that, a Muslim friend provided him a job at a vegetable shop. PMI also assisted with his bail application and provided household essentials. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he made masks for undertrials with PMI’s support.
Jaison described his journey from being a school topper with dreams of becoming a space scientist to facing imprisonment due to financial issues. PMI members visited him weekly and provided reading materials. He helped fellow inmates with application drafting. After his release in Dharwad, PMI helped rebuild his house and reconnect with his family. Christmas celebrations were held in jail, with a crib built every year. He recalled waiting for PMI volunteers every Friday.Bishop Rev Fr Francis Serrao of the Shimoga diocese expressed a wish for societal peace to avoid imprisonment. Former MGNREGS Ombudsman Sheena Shetty praised PMI’s unity and love message, calling for government recognition and support. Mangalore diocese Bishop Rev Fr Peter Paul Saldanha commended PMI’s 25 years of service and its impact on providing hope. Scholarships of Rs 10,000 each were awarded to 25 children of prisoners during the event.
