RRU Certifies Eight Prison Officers from Eight States as PRAHARI Master Trainers in Correctional Mental Health

By: Khabarpatri English

Published: 27 October 2026

RRU Certifies Eight Prison Officers from Eight States as PRAHARI Master Trainers in Correctional Mental Health

Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk

Gandhinagar : Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) has certified eight prison officers from eight states as Master Trainers under Project PRAHARI, a national initiative aimed at improving the identification and management of mental health concerns among inmates. The certification followed the second three-day residential Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on correctional mental health, held at the university’s Lavad campus from October 21 to 23. PRAHARI stands for Psychological Risk Assessment, Health Awareness and Resilience Initiative. The officers were nominated by prison administrations in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. They represented ranks ranging from Assistant Jailor to Superintendent. The programme was organised by Global Correctional Administration Studies (GCAS) under RRU’s School of Behavioural Sciences and Forensic Investigations (SBSFI). The curriculum covered seven modules, including the identification of psychological disorders and addiction, suicide-risk warning signs, trauma-informed communication, crisis de-escalation, referral mechanisms, stigma reduction and officer wellbeing. The PRAHARI framework aligns with a 2023 advisory from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and seeks to strengthen the role of prison personnel in identifying inmates experiencing psychological distress, suicidal behaviour or substance dependence. The newly certified Master Trainers will conduct similar training for correctional staff in their respective states, expanding the programme through a cascade training model. The first cohort, which concluded in September, certified officers from 12 states. The university has scheduled the third cohort of the training programme for November 18-20. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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