Welfare Actions for Incarcerated (WAFI) Outreach Program

Aligarh : The Department of Sociology at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has launched an outreach program titled Welfare Actions for Incarcerated (WAFI), aimed at providing social and legal assistance to inmates of Aligarh District Jail. The program, supported by the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI), offers AMU students and others an opportunity to engage in meaningful internships that focus on social justice and criminal law.

Prof. Shereen Sadiq, Chairman, Department of Sociology and Director of the WAFI program, highlighted that the initiative serves as a vital link between prisons, courts, and the families of inmates. She noted that student involvement not only accelerates the implementation of government legal aid schemes but also sensitizes the next generation of leaders to the complexities of the criminal justice system and the pressing social inequities within it.

The program encompasses a broad range of activities, such as legal aid, advocacy, and fostering familial connectivity for incarcerated individuals. Volunteers, through prison and court visits, aim to bridge the gap between the marginalized inmates and the judiciary, ensuring equitable access to justice for all, she added.

To tackle the challenges faced by inmates, the WAFI program has formed three specialized teams: the Home Visit Team, the Court Visit Team, and the Prison Visit Team. Since February 2024, Welfare Actions for Incarcerated (WAFI), with the support of 35 Aligarh Muslim University students from various disciplines and pro bono lawyers, has successfully provided social and legal assistance to 50 underprivileged inmates of Aligarh District Jail and their families.

Through WAFI, AMU continues its commitment to social justice, fostering a generation of empathetic leaders dedicated to societal transformation.