‘They reform rapists, stalkers...into sensitive human beings’

What goes on in the minds of men who commit crimes against women? The following statements offer a chilling glimpse. Trigger warning: they are crass, misogynistic and demeaning. medium nocaption116337134‘Outrageous’ might be the mildest response to such beliefs. But outrage, without understanding, won’t solve one of India’s most heinous crimes. If perpetrators see themselves as victims, they are likely to leave prison unreformed, with a high chance of committing a crime again.This alarming reality, repeating again and again, motivated Tihar jail authorities to do something definitive about it. They reached out to Mohit Raj, founder of non-profit Turn Your Concern Into Action (TYCIA), in 2017 to help them start a school in the prison complex. The interactions with the inmates paved the way for Project Second Chance, which began by addressing three fundamental questions:1. Why do men who commit such horrible crimes think they have been wronged, rather than them being in the wrong?2. Do they genuinely think this way or is it a pretence — or legal defence — to escape punishment?3. What’s the best way to bring about a demonstrable change in these men?The task was daunting — not only because of the stigma surrounding such offenders but also because it required empathy towards individuals whose actions were abhorrent.Eleena George, a sociology student who joined the initiative as a research fellow, describes how the project transformed her perspective.“I was around 22 years old and, like most girls my age, felt intense anger at the sex crimes women face daily,” she says. “But after interviewing these inmates, my anger gave way to something more profound: a realisation that unless we challenge these deeply ingrained stereotypes by engaging with men, nothing will change.” medium116338997‘Nothing to do with rape’: Six rapists on why they raped medium116339002Confronting stark realitiesWithin weeks of starting interactions — 300 inmates in Tihar jail between 2017 and 2021 — stark stereotypes began to emerge. Not only was the idea of consent alien to most, they believed women had to be submissive, sexual harassment was normal, and even a hint of friendship was a licence to command attention and availability.One inmate, for instance, could not understand why a woman he had called 105 times in one night died by suicide. She had ended their relationship under pressure from her parents, but he continued to stalk her, assuming her rejection was over flimsy reasons. Even after her death, he saw himself as a victim of excessive punishment.The socio-economic backgrounds of these offenders revealed that the problem wasn’t individual or community specific. It was systemic:Over 80% had not completed Class XII, and 66% had dropped out before Class VIIIOnly one-third were employed at the time of arrestMost of their families earned less than ₹10,000 per monthTwo-thirds of the offenders had no employment opportunities after their releaseMany didn’t have even basic legal literacy, especially of Pocso ActWhen these men left prison, they often faced unemployment, poverty and unresolved anger — fuelling a dangerous cycle of reoffending. A majority of them were aged between 18 and 21 years, a life full of potential or perils.Says TYCIA founder Raj: “Just understanding these men wasn’t enough, we had to do something to change their thinking, and hopefully, their future.” medium116337168A curriculum for changeWith that in mind, TYCIA created Project Unlearn, anchored by an initiative called Pehal — a 45-hour ‘curriculum’ that is anything but conventional. It comprises comic books, board games, playing cards and activities that motivate men to engage in discussions on trigger points for crime.A game of ‘Legal Ludo’ educates players about their rights and responsibilities, while ‘Snakes and Ladders’ uses questions about consent to guide players — correct answers move them up, while mistakes send them sliding down. Comics like ‘Haami’ focus on sexual consent, ‘Behkawa’ on child safety, and ‘Barabari’ on domestic violence.The curriculum’s innovative methods resonate with participants, even those with limited literacy.“The language and activities are tailored to their levels of understanding,” says Eleena. “Sessions, held over two months, focus on real-life situations to make the lessons relatable.”Till date, Pehal has reached over 2,100 prisoners — 1,700-plus in Delhi’s Tihar jail, around 150 in Haryana’s Bhondsi jail and more than 250 in Dehradun’s Sudhowala jail. It has also impacted over 400 juveniles in observation homes across Delhi and Noida.At TYCIA’s South Delhi centre, former prisoners are trained to become changemakers in their communities through a one-year fellowship programme called Second Chance. Fellows who graduate often work as social entrepreneurs or peer educators.“Armed with knowledge about gender, consent and legal rights, these fellows become gatekeepers in their communities,” says Raj. “They intervene to stop others from taking a wrong step.”One such fellow, Avneesh, had been arrested in 2015 and acquitted in 2021. Today, he manages a helpline called Kunji, assisting former inmates in navigating life after prison. There’s another project where inmates are working on plans to make prisons eco-friendly. medium116337160 medium nocaptionChange multipliersRaj is now expanding work beyond inmates and former inmates through an initiative called Second Chance Adda — a space where former inmates host discussions with at-risk individuals to address behaviours that might lead to crime.It’s a non-sci-fi version of what PreCrime unit in Hollywood blockbuster Minority Report did: stop future crimes by reforming future criminals in the present. Much needed in a country that reports nearly half-a-million crimes against women every year.Among the many revelations that came up during the project, one stands out: a convict in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case, awaiting execution, drew a picture of a girl on a leaf with a message of apology.“He said this was his way of seeking forgiveness, knowing he would never have the chance to do so in person,” Raj recounts.Rehabilitation, the heart of Project Unlearn and Project Second Chance, cannot undo the pain of past crimes, but it offers the possibility of preventing new ones — a mission that aims to reshape the very essence of justice.Lead illustration: Sajeev Kumarapuram