Team NEPO, a youth-led non-profit organization, has established a library in the Rasuwa prison office through its flagship project “Pustak Pariyojana” on Friday along with two-days free health camp for inmates. The Team NEPO said that it established the library in prisons of Nepal to promote rehabilitation, reintegration and reading culture for inmates, ensuring their right to education and information followed by imperceptible reintegration into the society once out of prison. The event was chaired by Chief District Officer Prakash Chandra Adhikari.

Dr. Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO, DSP Subash Budhathoki, Inspector Bishnu Pradeep Bashyal and Jailor Hariram Neupane were also present in the program.

Addressing the inmates and the organization representatives, CDO Prakash Chandra Adhikari congratulated and thanked Team NEPO for their effort towards establishing prisons as correctional centers and requested inmates to invest their time in reading the books. Jailor Hariram Neupane said that he was extremely happy and excited to receive the books and thanked the team for their generous and thoughtful contribution. Dr Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO handed over 500 books of various genres ranging from fictional/non-fictional to self-help, motivational, autobiographies and skill development books, journals and magazines. Nabin Khanal, Treasurer of Team NEPO, handed over 100 notebooks and pens to Jailor Hariram Neupane. Dr Paudel highlighted, "Books in prison bring positive changes in people's lives and the reading habit is beneficial for our mental health.” Addressing the prisoners, he appealed to make maximum use of those books, as well as encouraged them to write down their experiences, positive and negative feelings, difficulties and stresses while spending time in prison. stating that the notebooks were provided to the prisoners in order to journal their everyday life in prison, he thanked the supporting partners Ethics from Diverse Perspective and Global Hub for Educational Network. Earlier, libraries were set up in Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Tanahun, Achham, Chitwan and Dang prisons under the campaign. Pustak Pariyojana in Rasuwa benefits 72 inmates (64 males and 8 females). Meanwhile, Sarina Subedi, Program Coordinator of Team NEPO handed over 100 sanitary pads for female inmates inaugurating two-days free health camp on 17th and 18th February. She handed over the sanitary pads in collaboration with District Ayurveda Health Center, Rasuwa, Prison Office Rasuwa supported by Dekha Herbals. The health camp offered general health checkup, blood pressure and blood glucose screening and provided free prescribed medicines, said Dr Paudel. The camp served 72 inmates along with security personnel and other staff of the Rasuwa Prison Office.