17-year-old teen Manasvi Adusumilli transforming prisoner rehabilitation efforts in India
At just 17, Manasvi Adusumilli is driving a transformative movement in India’s prison rehabilitation landscape through her student-led nonprofit, Amanavikrana Foundation. Dedicated to reshaping the lives of prisoners and juveniles, by offering vocational training, mental health support, and policy advocacy, the foundation is making significant strides in reducing recidivism rates and providing former convicts with a fair shot at reintegrating into society.
“I believe in the power of second chances,” Manasvi says, explaining her motivation for this initiative. “No one should be defined by their past mistakes forever. Everyone deserves the opportunity to redefine themselves and their future.”
Manasvi’s work began with her passion for justice, ignited by her work writing a novel about victim dehumanization in legal systems. This was followed by active collaborations with foundations in the United States where she focused on exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals. After returning to India, she founded the Amanavikrana Foundation, recognizing the glaring gaps in prison rehabilitation programs and support systems in her country.
The foundation’s vocational training programs equip prisoners and juveniles with industry-relevant skills such as carpentry, construction, equipment operating, masonry, and welding, ensuring they are job-ready upon release. Currently collaborating with 4 corporations, Manasvi has created partnerships that foster fair hiring practices, providing former inmates with opportunities to reenter the workforce. “We have to change the narrative around former convicts,” she insists. “It’s not just about training them; it’s about making sure society gives them a chance to succeed.”
Mental health rehabilitation is another cornerstone of Amanavikrana’s approach. Understanding that emotional and psychological healing is key to successful reintegration, Manasvi has incorporated mental health services, including therapy and counseling into the foundation’s programs. These efforts help individuals address past trauma and develop the resilience needed to overcome societal stigmas.
In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Manasvi and the Amanavikrana Foundation have been commended by the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services in Guntur, who acknowledged their efforts in a formal letter. Additionally, she received an award from the Bathula Foundation awarded by Mr. Nagarjuna Reddy who she collaborated with to conduct vocational training sessions and alter hiring practices with corporations. For her continued efforts, Manasvi received an award for commendable civic engagement from The Government of Andhra Pradesh. This was awarded by Mr. Silpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy, a Member of the Legislative Assembly in Andhra Pradesh.
The impact of the foundation has already reached seven prisons, touching the lives of numerous prisoners and juveniles. With expansion plans in place, Manasvi’s work continues to inspire change across the country. In addition to her on-the-ground efforts, she has also published a literature review on prisoner reintegration roadblocks in India, advocating for necessary policy changes to ease the transition for released prisoners. Manasvi has been actively lobbying for housing policies that reduce landlord discrimination and ensure access to halfway houses, giving former convicts a place to rebuild their lives. "Stable housing is one of the most crucial steps in reintegration," she explains. "Without it, many fall back into cycles of crime–what we call recidivism. We’re trying to break that pattern."
“We are not just working with individuals, we are striving to change systems,” she adds. “Every person who reintegrates successfully is a testament to the power in the belief of support and second chances.”
Manasvi’s tireless efforts through the Amanavikrana Foundation are paving the way for a more compassionate and humane justice system, one that acknowledges the dignity and potential of every individual.
Join her journey
You can support her initiative by following @amanavikrana_foundation on Instagram or visit her website at amanavikrana-foundation.org
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