Voluntary Action for Rehabilitation and Development (VARHAD) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization. VARHAD is working with undertrial and convict prisoners and their families towards their reformation and rehabilitation, based in Amravati Central Prison. A team of Social Workers, Para-professional Social Workers, Teachers, Trainers, support staff and Volunteers are working for the cause. The workers interact with prisoners and their families keeping in mind the objectives of the organization. Following are the objectives of VARHAD while working with the prisoners and their families :

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We had begun in 2002 with only two part-time workers by taking up cases in the Amravati Central Prison. Over a period of time, the team gradually expanded to 20 full-time workers and volunteers. In the beginning, we only focused on the children of women prisoners who were with their mothers in the prison. Now we are also working with the children of male and female undertrial and convict prisoners left outside. Since this prison is a Central Prison, there are convicts and undertrials from Amravati and four other districts of Vidharbha housed in it. Thus, the families of these prisoners are spread our in all the four districts of Yavatmal, Washim, Akola, and Buldhana, besides Amravati. Besides provision to help the prisoners for legal aid, we also assist the prisoners to avail of the prison facilities like parole and furlough. VARHAD provides vocational training to the women prisoners in the prison through a Training Center based in the prison. We have also started a "Sawitribai Phule Mahila Punarwasan Kendra" (Women Rehabilitation Center ) for released women prisoners. Aftercare services are provided to the released prisoners. Through this, began our work with the police in regard to the rehabilitation of released prisoners. This Rehabilitation Center plays an important role in our work towards crime prevention in the community.