Tamil Nadu Prisoners Welfare Council (TNPWC), was originally initiated as the Madras Discharged Prisoners Aid Society by Major Cameron, I.M.S., then Inspector General of Prisons, Madras Presidency. The inaugural public meeting held at Memorial Hall, Madras, marked the establishment of this unique welfare organization.
The Company was formally registered as a non-profit entity under the Indian Companies Act, 1913, on 11th July 1921. Since its inception, the Company’s primary goal has been to provide assistance, rehabilitation, and reintegration support to individuals released from prisons, enabling them to lead socially and economically stable lives.
Over the decades, the Company has consistently maintained its public-service orientation and is now registered as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013.
Madras Presidency Discharged Prisoners Aid Society (MP DPAS)
The Madras Presidency Discharged Prisoners Aid Society was one of the earliest organized initiatives in India aimed at the rehabilitation and welfare of released prisoners. It was established during the British period under the Madras Presidency, which then encompassed the regions of present-day Tamil Nadu, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka.
The Society was founded through the pioneering efforts of Major Cameron, IMS, the then Inspector General of Prisons, Madras Presidency. Its inception was marked by a public meeting held at Memorial Hall, Madras, where the mission to aid discharged prisoners and help them reintegrate into society was formally announced.
MPDPAS was subsequently registered on 11th July 1921, and functioned as a non-profit welfare organization dedicated to providing assistance, employment guidance, and moral support to individuals released from prisons.
Tamil Nadu Discharged Prisoners Aid Society (TNDPAS)
With the formation of the State of Tamil Nadu from the erstwhile Madras State, MPDPAS name was accordingly changed to the Tamil Nadu Discharged Prisoners Aid Society (TNDPAS), reflecting its identity while continuing its original mission of service and reform.
Tamil Nadu Prisoners Welfare Council (TNPWC)
In keeping with evolving governance frameworks and the commitment to expand its welfare scope, TNDPAS decided to include about to be released prisoners currently in prisons, undertake more comprehensive welfare measures and academic studies and researches. TNDPAS was renomenclatured as the Tamil Nadu Prisoners Welfare Council (TNPWC). It now functions retaining its public service character and continuing to prepare the ready to release prisoners for a smooth integration into society and released prisoners and their families in achieving sustainable rehabilitation.
Through its enduring legacy of over a century, the TNPWC stands as a testament to Tamil Nadu’s progressive approach to penal reform, rehabilitation, and human welfare.