The genius of Her Royal Highness revitalizes prisoners through the "Kumlungjai Project," marking nearly 20 years of advancing the Thai justice system and creating sustainable opportunities for reintegration into society.
Looking Back "Kumlungjai Project" Established to assist inmates, originating from the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, the Princess Royal, the Supreme Patriarch's Daughter. She visited the Central Women's Correctional Institution and recognized the issues faced by female prisoners, a vulnerable group including pregnant women and children living with inmates. Thus, she conceived the "Kumlungjai Project" in 2006, assigning the Ministry of Justice as the lead agency for implementation.
Today, nearly 20 years later, the Kumlungjai Project has continuously evolved, leading to legal reforms and standards for inmate care. In 2010, its success contributed to the adoption of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, known as the "Bangkok Rules." This represents a major advancement in the Thai justice system. Simultaneously, the project expanded to develop inmates of all genders and ages, focusing on vocational training to enable quality reintegration into society.
Implementation has proceeded from the "upstream" phase, which involves training and developing practical skills for inmates to earn a living. This includes partnerships with various agencies and companies, such as collaborating with the Ban Sankong Hand Embroidery Group in Chiang Rai Province to teach sewing and embroidery, and working with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) to provide training in online selling skills and delivery rider services.
Products made by inmates have been developed into over 74 OTOP-certified items, sold through "Inspire Kumlungjai" shops and booths. The project generates an average monthly income of 75,000 baht within prisons, leading to dividends distributed to inmates averaging between 500 to 1,000 baht per person each time. Inmates under the project also receive dividend payouts from the Kumlungjai Fund averaging 5,000 baht per prison.
The "midstream" phase, honors former inmates who pursue honest livelihoods as "role models," currently numbering over 300. They are invited to speak at various prisons as positive examples and serve as instructors in the "Senior Teaches Junior" program, sharing experiences and inspiration with current inmates.
. The "downstream" phase, builds peer support networks to aid the rehabilitation of former prisoners and has piloted the establishment of Halfway Houses to accommodate ex-inmates not yet ready to return to the community.
Thanks to the farsighted vision of Her Royal Highness who initiated the "Kumlungjai Project," which led to the global standard known as the "Bangkok Rules" and continues to improve quality of life and create opportunities for inmates to this day. This stands as a great success elevating the Thai justice system while simultaneously fostering livelihoods and sustainably reintegrating human resources back into society from beginning to end.