Visit to the prison of Haridwar - April 2007
By Jutta Bachmeier

I'm a Yoga Teacher who lives in Germany with my husband Bernd Bachmeier. Together we run a Yoga Teacher's Training Center. Since many years we have been visiting Rishikesh with our group of yoga teachers from Germany.

In Omkarananda Ganga Sadan we have found a wonderful clean home where we find peace and spiritual growth, which enables us to practice Yoga more effectively.

On every visit we look forward to meet our friend Usha Devi. Since years we have been seeing the activities that she has been undertaking in various social areas. Personally, I'm touched by her great enthusiasm with which she devotes herself to help the disadvantaged, and by the efficiency with which she manages the Yoga Center and a Preparatory School in Rishikesh.

During our visit last year Usha told us about a prison in the vicinity of Haridwar, in which live around 30 to 40 female inmates. Some of these women have children living with them. The children are allowed to live with their mothers up to the age of six. However, without external help such children cannot go to school, nor can they get toys or emotional encouragement from outside. So, a member of our Yoga Group undertook the sponsorship of a little boy.

Such a sponsorship means that for a regular payment of about 600/- INR one can help the child to go to school. School & bus fees, books and uniform etc. all is covered under this amount.

This April I had the opportunity to visit the prison myself with Usha Devi. The armed officers guarding the high walls and a massive steel gate were very friendly to us and welcomed us.

Within the prison I was impressed by a large garden. The officers explained me that the inmates produce vegetables, fruits and herbs in these gardens. Other inmates were occupied in various tasks according to their abilities. Some were teaching their fellow inmates English, Hindi and Urdu. With great pride they showed us the good report of a girl who has been doing well at school.

Thanks to the efforts of Usha, toys, including a swing and a slide, have been installed in the crèche for the children. Children's room seems like a little kindergarten. A young friendly woman looks after the little group. We had brought some clothes, toys and sweets with us for them. I was so touched by them, and I just wish I could do more and more for them.

Everywhere we went, we sow flowers, shady bushes and green trees. Without the massive walls and armed guards this would be the most pleasant place to live.

We are grateful that people like Usha exist today, who do their utmost to establish sympathy and dignity among human beings.