A de-addiction centre, ‘Nivrutti’, was inaugurated at the Central Prison in Cherlapalli on Monday (April 6) as part of efforts to strengthen rehabilitation and reformative initiatives for inmates.Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurated the facility in the presence of senior officials, including Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra and other government representatives.Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that correctional institutions must focus on reform and rehabilitation, and highlighted past efforts to improve conditions in prisons and staff welfare.DG Soumya Mishra said the centre marks a significant step in strengthening jail-based rehabilitation programmes and emphasised that substance abuse should be addressed through counselling, medical care and sustained support rather than punitive measures alone. Similar ‘Nivrutti’ centres have been established in all central prisons in the State, including Chanchalguda, Sangareddy and Nizamabad, as well as the Special Prison for Women in Hyderabad. These centres are staffed with psychologists and social workers to provide treatment and counselling.According to officials, 2,915 inmates have been screened for substance use, while 590 have undergone assessment and received counselling and therapy.Following the inauguration, the Governor visited the Prisoner Agricultural Colony in Cherlapalli and reviewed various vocational and reformative activities. He also inspected initiatives such as organic farming and skill-based programmes aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.Published - April 06, 2026 08:32 pm IST