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Be a part of this noble cause and earn good merits of inner peace. You can be a
family to an unclaimed who is waiting for your help
family to an unclaimed who is waiting for your help
Milarepa Prison Transformation Programme (MPTP)
Named after the celebrated Tibetan Yogi Jetsun Milarepa of the eleventh century whose initial life was darkened by the thoughts of hatred, revenge, anger thereby executed in mass murder of innocent lives directed by his hateful mind was later on transformed to an enlightened Mahasiddha due to his deep seated remorse, penance and commitment in transforming his lifestyle, Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation has been working in bringing about positive transformation in the lives of around 2000 incarcerated prison inmates inside five Correctional Homes of West Bengal, India. The major focus of attention is on the moral welfare of the prison inmates and their human rights, health, education and skill development.
The landmark achievements of Milarepa Prison Transformation Programme stand to be as follows:
WE PROVIDE
- Family Counselling
- Children from Jail to Welfare Home
- Programmes for the Prison Inmates
- Parinirvana Funeral For The Unclaimed
- Family Counselling
Family Counselling
So far, some 128 families of the prison inmates have been counselled in their hour of crisis where the innocent family members fall victim to social shamming, ostracization and negativity bestowed by the mainstream society. It has been seen that most of the male inmates generally happen to be the sole bread winner of the family and when such men undergo incarceration, the aged parents, women and children suffer the most not just economically but socially, psychologically and emotionally. The possibility of falling prey to exploitation is seen to be extremely high in this volatile situation which is where Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation has taken the lead in counselling the family members of the inmates by paying home visits in both the rural as well as urban areas.
Children from Jail to Welfare Home
Although children between 0 to 6 years of age are permitted to stay with their parent/s inside the correctional home (mostly with their mother), the ambience of the correctional home cannot be considered a place for raising a mentally healthy child. Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation laid no stone unturned in doing the necessary arrangements in transferring innocent children above the age of six years to Childrens Home where proper education, health and their holistic growth is taken special care of. Necessary arrangements have also been facilitated in allowing these children to meet their incarcerated parents once a week. Special attention is given by the organization in taking care of the children and catering to the emotional needs of both the parents inside as well as children outside the correctional homes.
Programmes for the Prison Inmates
The rise in the reported crime rates in the society and the overcrowding of the correctional homes speak for itself that there is some form of a lacuna that needs to be addressed at the earliest. Correctional Homes were created to address this vital issue of transforming the lives of the offenders and reinstate a better person back to the mainstream society. However, the rise in the comeback of the habitual offenders back to the correctional homes indicate otherwise. Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation has taken upon oneself in helping address this sensitive issue by taking up different measures such as imparting moral and value education, skill development trainings, contemplative classes via yoga, meditation, sports, art, music and dramatics etc. The feeling of being unloved and unheard cannot be underestimated which is why the interactive methodology used by the organization has definitely shown positive impact upon the lives of the inmates which is the idea behind Milarepa Prison Transformation Programme.
Parinirvana Funeral For The Unclaimed
Life and death are a continuous event that all living beings undergo where the consciousness (commonly understood as spirit) continues after death often changing forms as per one’s actions (karma) in the past life. Death marks the end of the present existing life and the passage into the next and funeral is the final goodbye to the dying person. Not all are fortunate to die a peaceful death and get a farewell from their loved ones. The government mortuary validates this statement where many unclaimed dead bodies patiently wait for their turns for a farewell.
Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation has moved forward with the cremation of the unclaimed dead bodies standing as a family for the ones who do not get any form of recognition apart from an identification case number.
The cremation is done through Buddhist Rituals while those whose beliefs get identified get their final rites through their very own methods of worship.
On every new moon day and full moon day, a special prayer service is hosted for the departed souls where the ashes are finally offered to river Ganga.
Family Counselling
So far, some 128 families of the prison inmates have been counselled in their hour of crisis where the innocent family members fall victim to social shamming, ostracization and negativity bestowed by the mainstream society. It has been seen that most of the male inmates generally happen to be the sole bread winner of the family and when such men undergo incarceration, the aged parents, women and children suffer the most not just economically but socially, psychologically and emotionally. The possibility of falling prey to exploitation is seen to be extremely high in this volatile situation which is where Darjeeling Bodhisattva Foundation has taken the lead in counselling the family members of the inmates by paying home visits in both the rural as well as urban areas.
