visiting the imprisoned

India's prison population—over 5.5 lakh as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023—often consists not only of convicted criminals but also of a large proportion of undertrial prisoners, many of whom are held for long periods without conviction. In our society, imprisonment is frequently accompanied by intense stigma and social exclusion, both for the individual and their family. While the popular narrative tends to dehumanize prisoners, it is important to recognize, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Crime is but a sign of a diseased mind, and imprisonment should aim primarily at treating a prisoner’s diseased mind and making him fit to go into society after release to lead an honest life.”

In this spirit, the Bread of Life (B.O.L.) Foundation is committed to supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society. The foundation emphasizes that restorative justice must also include care for the families of prisoners, who are often left behind to suffer silently—socially, emotionally, and economically. Recognizing the crucial role families play in a prisoner’s eventual reformation and reintegration, B.O.L. will adopt a three-fold outreach model: listening to prisoners, offering psychological and emotional counseling, and supporting families through resource access, community networks, and vocational assistance.

Through the Prison Ministry initiative, the foundation seeks to bring empathy, dignity, and social inclusion into an often-ignored aspect of India’s criminal justice system, advocating not just for punishment, but for true transformation.