SR. MARY JANE PINTO, SFN, ANGEL OF PRISONERS Born in March 1941,she started life as a teacher, Headmistress and was well known , as an Educationist, administrator, reformer, , innovator , igniting young minds of students and teachers in all fields .Her friends in the education had propose her name for prestigious teacher award, but she would not consider delaying her transfer by 6 months to serve her Congregation, Hence she was beyond the lure of awards,. She left her legacy and indelible mark and foot prints in the field of Education. She also served as the Superior General of SFN. in response and obedience. After retirement and at the age of 74, she has reinvented herself through successful prison Ministry by seer hard work and determination. In recognition and appreciation of her contribution to prison missioner, Directorate of Women & Child Development Govt, Goa has honoured her with prestigious RAJYA MAHILA SAMAN AWARD for the year 2014, conferred on 8/3/2015, on International Women Day, at Goa Secretariat, It was applied by her well wishers, showing her disposition and least preference for such recognition and honours. She was very much inspired, motivated, encouraged to continue her mission by the talk of Mrs Kiran Bedi, a prison reformer ,at a seminar in 1994 at Goregaon, Seminary.Fr Varghese’s Kariperry , unanimously elected her area co- coordinator in October 17, 1997 and it was rebirth in a world of desperation .In this demanding and challenging mission,, she is empowered by a dedicated force of 38 volunteers from different walks of life, The prison ministry is operating under the banner ,CARITAs Goa Her motto has been HELPING OTHERS IN DISTRESS, NEGLECTED AND CONDEMNED. She believed in reformation in action and not retribution, which can change humans. A touch of compassion, love. hope and help are her amour of prison mission to dispel depression, hatred and violence .She showed that prisoners are human beings to be treated with respect , dignity and manifested faith in their reformation , social rehabilitation and usefulness .She was Ma and didi, a mother figure to the prisoners since1994 having calming effect on prisoners. Many prisoners are outsiders, illiterates and hence counselors and speakers were engaged to reach out to them. Her approach has led to the acceptance by prison officials, culminating in the improvement in state affairs of prisons .She emphasized in changing the environment of understanding, forgiveness , forgetting hatred between the families of victims, accused and the society, Her work is connected with Central jail , sub jail, lock ups and at major towns of Goa .Her mission is centered on Education at all levels, computer literacy, culture, skills are imparted in making of candles , paper bags weaving bamboo baskets, painting, plumbing, flower making, electrician ,tailoring, papad, pickles ,handicraft, tailoring, music , ,weaving baskets,, screen printing are various trades taught. Making 1000 paper bags got remission in sentence of 2 days at her initiative and amount deposited in welfare fund of prisoners. Sports and development of skills help mental balance to prepare them for entering the society on release with confidence There is formal and non formal education, literary classes, which will help to qualify at all levels of Educational ladder up to graduation and beyond to professional stage in certified courses. She also distributed permissible eatables., Since 1997,pregnant women ,Children born in prison are cared for, provided medical attention and proper diet and after 3 years children are enrolled in formal schools, monitored for their progress and also pa, Making 1000 paper bags gets remission of 2 days at her initiative. There is celebration of birthdays, all festivals and National days, conducting games, tournaments in various games too helps in physical exercises, along with meditation to beat stress on court hearings and medical examination. Her holistic development embraced integral liberation, with spiritual psychological, emotional renewal, reconciliation with self God and society .Thus counseling, vocational awareness brought attitudinal positive changes, mental stability and transformation of prisoners into disciplined citizen, Besides they were relieved of boredom, depression and open confession freed prisoners of guilt complex inculcating values of repentance and forgiveness of self, loved ones for hate crimes. The release prisoners are in constant contact, financed, employed and kept abreast of Govt schemes for resettlement. In 1992 Asha Sadan was established to help the released prisoners with trades and skills and also to integrate them in the society. Kiran Niketan at Zuari Nagar is aimed at protection and promotion of of child interest and welfare. In 2008 a quarterly news letter for prisons was published and later new manual on remedial and reformation as she was on board of Commission to visit prisons. She visited rape victims and helped them with legal formalities, finances and above restored their self worth and confidence. She conducted talks for public awareness on Prisoners rights and human dimensions. Talks were arranged for prisoners on value based programmes , medical camps, drugs and alcoholism It is important that they are not traumatized emotionally by recalling their past. She stood guarantee with a bond of one lakh for 28 days of Parole for those who could not afford, as the freedom and social integration will not isolate them on reentry into the society .The Yoga teaching helps conquer depression, violence, hatred and forgiveness and repentance, Depressed convicts accept their fate and are easy to be reformed, but under trials are anxious about their cases and prone to violent behavior M
Sr Jane was part of high level commission, on APNA ghar, remand homes and jails leading to remedial and not punitive manual The angel of prisons as she is widely known has touched the hearts and minds of all concerned, “where reason ends and faith begins” She spread and sowed good seeds in receptive minds of prisoners, Her appearance on the scene has made a lot of difference in this field and the society by reposing faith in prisoners. It is gratitude of society for help rendered to this abandoned, neglected, condemned part of humanity and to integrate them as useful members of the society that made her an angel of prisoners in Goa. Hardened criminals are part of society and not outcasts God forbid, her undiagnosed illness for too long at the hands of finest medical experts in reputed hospitals cannot be overlooked and accepted as will of God and her destiny Medical negligence is worst than disease, however serious and incurable it may be Nelson Lopes Chinchinim Click he
