Amritsar, April 23
No court has awarded them imprisonment. Still, they are behind bars. Tender hearts throb from the lock-up of the high security jail. All nine jail inmate children are not aware that their next-door neighbours are hardcore criminals. Some of the convicts are foreign nationals, including Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.

Khushdeep, who was born three months ago in the jail complex, has not yet seen the world outside the four high walls. The tiny tot has to play with lifers, most of them convicted for killing their husbands. Her mother, Jasbir Kaur, a resident of Sabhra village in Patti subdivision, too is lodged in the jail on charges of killing her husband. However, the children seem happy to play with soft toys being made in the ‘stiching centre’ by the jail inmates.

Four of the children belong to one family. Rajwinder Kaur (22) who is behind bars along with her two children Kanwaljit (4) and Narinderjit (5) said her entire family was arrested following the killing of her husband on August 5, 2003. Her sister Baljinder Kaur (her children), mother Mohinder Kaur and father Dalbir Singh, a factory workman, were also put in the lock-up.

The biggest worry for the convicted mothers is education of their wards.

However, the jail authorities have allowed the India Vision Foundation (IVF), headed by IPS officer Kiran Bedi, and the Punjab State Social Development Board (PSSDB), headed by Ms Ratna, to impart basic education to the children lodged in jail.

The Jail Superintendent, Capt S.P. Singh, says that the primers and slates have been provided to the inmates. Besides, adult education was being provided to them.

Ms Nirmaljit Sandhu, Project Director IVF, Amritsar, said her organisation was ready to bear the board and lodging charges of the children if the government gave permission to send them in boarding schools. She said the IVF had already made arrangements for the children of convicts lodged in Tihar Jail.

Ms Ratna said the PSSDB, had deputed a permanent tutor for adult education in the jail complex where middle-aged illiterate women learn the alphabet on slates.

She said the Jail Superintendent was extending all help in this social cause.

She said it was heart-rendering to see the fate of 11 children who are also suffering along with their mothers. Jagdish Kaur, who is serving a life term is helping the tutor in imparting adult education.