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Telangana Prisons Win Prestigious SKOCH Award for Innovative De-Addiction Program
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News18•26-09-2026, 18:00
Telangana Prisons Win Prestigious SKOCH Award for Innovative De-Addiction Program
- •The Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services Department received the SKOCH Award 2026 for its "NIVRUTTI" De-Addiction Centres, recognized at the 109th SKOCH Summit – India Economic Forum in New Delhi.
- •Led by Director General Soumya Mishra, the NIVRUTTI initiative offers scientific de-addiction treatment, counselling, and rehabilitation to prisoners, aiming for healthy reintegration into society.
- •NIVRUTTI Centres are established in central prisons across Hyderabad, Cherlapalli, Sangareddy, Nizamabad, and the Special Prison for Women, Hyderabad, providing comprehensive support from screening to post-release follow-up.
- •The program aligns with Telangana's vision for a Drug-Free Telangana and is supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's NAPDDR, having screened 4,200 inmates and provided counselling to 2,126.
- •An impact study by APCA, Vellore, confirmed the program's effectiveness, with findings presented at the International Research in Corrections Conference (IRCC)–2026 in Auckland, New Zealand, showcasing Telangana's innovative approach globally.
Key Questions Answered
The NIVRUTTI initiative involves establishing de-addiction centres in state prisons to provide scientific treatment, counselling, behavioural support, and rehabilitation for prisoners with substance-use disorders, aiming to help them lead healthy lives after release.
The centres have been established at central prisons in Hyderabad, Cherlapalli, Sangareddy, Nizamabad, and the Special Prison for Women in Hyderabad.
The department was honoured with the prestigious SKOCH Award 2026 at the 109th SKOCH Summit – India Economic Forum held in New Delhi for its innovative NIVRUTTI de-addiction initiative.
