Where Second Chances
Transform Prisons.
TYCIA Foundation's flagship model turning high-heat, high-density prisons into climate-adaptive, regenerative spaces.
Agroecology & Kitchen Garden Bed Preparation
Nuh District Jail, Haryana • TYCIA Foundation
Living Farm Canopy
420kg fresh greens/cycle
Mess Waste Composted
100% kitchen diversion
Summer Water-Tank Covers
Temperature reduction during summer
Why Climate-Adaptive Prisons?
High density, enclosed infrastructure, and zero adaptive resources create extreme climate vulnerability.
Extreme Heat
Barracks exceed 44°C in summer peaks, triggering acute heat exhaustion and aggression.
Water Scarcity
Groundwater depletion and peak load leave undertrials queuing for hours for sanitation.
Aged Infrastructure
Concrete roofs without thermal barriers, zero airflow, and frequent power blackouts.
Kitchen Waste
Mess generates 250kg unsegregated wet scraps daily, creating odor and pest risks.
Barren Yards
Concrete yards magnify heat island effect while inmate diets lack fresh micronutrients.
Changing Weather
Sudden dust storms and monsoon flooding disrupt barracks sanitation and health.
Research-to-Action Protocol
Can prisons become part of the climate solution? Piloting practical custodial resilience at Nuh District Jail, Haryana.
Assessment
Auditing indoor heat, water stress, and organic waste baselines across barracks.
Eco-Stewards
Interactive workshops uniting wardens and incarcerated cohorts in hands-on stewardship.
Interventions
Low-cost physical retrofits: cool roofs, reed shading, sumps, and vermiculture.
Demonstration
Live operational testing at Nuh District Jail tracking heat drops and organic harvests.
Replication
Open-source standard operating procedures for state and national prison directorates.
Interactive Schematic
Land area mapping and physical interventions situated inside the correctional compound.
1.2-Acre Permaculture Kitchen Garden
420 kg organic greens harvested per cycle
Courtyard transformed into raised beds growing moringa, spinach, and gourds for daily barrack meals.
- Supplements inmate mess with fresh vitamins & iron
- Managed by 120+ active incarcerated trainees
30 Climate Actions Audit
Standardized interventions transforming correctional compounds into climate-resilient restorative spaces.
High-Albedo Cool Roof Coating
Solar-reflective white paint on roofs to bounce thermal radiation.
Bamboo & Reed Window Screens
Woven reed shades placed outside windows to block radiant solar gain.
Passive Cross-Ventilation Louvers
Clerestory air release vents expelling hot air near ceiling ridges.
Thermal Veranda Breezeways
Covered breezeways shielding interior living cells from direct wall baking.
Solar Inverter Backups
Rooftop solar packs keeping ceiling fans running during blackout spikes.
Permeable Courtyard Pavements
Hollow concrete pavers allowing rain percolation while curbing radiant heat.
Rooftop Rainwater Catchment
Barrack roof drains routed through sand-gravel filters into sumps.
Greywater Reed-Bed Biofilters
Root-zone biofilter treating laundry and ablution runoff for garden reuse.
Push Aerators & Flow Restrictors
Vandal-proof brass aerator caps regulating flow rates across washblocks.
Subsurface Drip Irrigation
Root-zone drip lines for kitchen gardens operating without fossil pumps.
Deep Aquifer Recharge Pits
Direct percolation shafts directing surplus storm runoff past clay strata.
Tank Telemetry & Leak Audits
Mechanical floats and daily undertrial water-marshal logs to prevent overflows.
Kitchen 3-Stream Segregation
Color-coded stainless mess bins separating organic scraps and dry packaging.
Aerobic Vermicomposting Beds
Raised brick pits with red wiggler earthworms processing 250kg greens daily.
Zero Open-Burning Protocol
Directive ending open burning of leaf litter and plastics within jail grounds.
Dry Recyclables Baling
Sorting clean cardboard and plastic for authorized collection.
Bio-Enzyme Floor Cleaners
Fermenting fruit peels and jaggery into natural acidic sanitation cleaner.
Hazardous & Medical Segregation
Color-coded puncture-proof disposal boxes for dispensary sharps.
1.2-Acre Permaculture Garden
Multi-tiered edible ecosystem producing chemical-free vegetables for mess.
Drought-Hardy Native Canopy
Planting Neem, Peepal, and Jamun trees to create long-term windbreaks.
High-Nutrition Moringa Groves
Fast-growing drumstick trees providing bioavailable iron and vitamins.
Anti-Mosquito Botanical Belts
Border plantings of Tulsi, Citronella, and Lemongrass along drains.
Heirloom Seed-Bank & Nursery
Preserving open-pollinated vegetable seeds for self-sufficient propagation.
Botanical Pest Brews
Neemastra brews replacing toxic organophosphate chemical pesticides.
Staff-Inmate Climate Classes
Weekly masterclasses bringing wardens and incarcerated cohorts together.
Peer Eco-Ambassador Cohort
Designating trained inmate leaders in each ward to audit taps and waste.
Vocational Farm Certificates
Accredited training valid for nursery employment upon community reentry.
Harvest Day Convocations
Quarterly harvest festivals celebrating farm yields and certificates.
Ecotherapy Mindfulness
Garden grounding sessions alleviating custodial confinement anxiety.
State Policy Replication SOPs
Synthesizing Nuh Jail data into replication manuals for national prisons.
Holistic Action Model
Targeting heat relief, decentralized water/waste circularity, and accredited vocational skills.
Resilient Infrastructure
- Cool Roofs: Lowers ceiling heat by up to 12°C
- Reed Shading: Deflects 65% direct radiant glare
- Louvers: Passive night-time air change boost
Water & Circular Waste
- Monsoon Rain: 450,000L stored in sand filters
- Vermicompost: 250kg kitchen scraps recycled daily
- Greywater: Reed beds reclaim 8,000L daily for crops
Wellbeing & Vocational Skills
- 1.2 Acres Beds: Fresh chemical-free greens for mess
- Eco-Stewards: Joint warden & inmate classes
- Accredited Cert: Vocational credential for release
Verified Impact
Real stories of restored dignity, reduced heat aggression, and reintegration livelihoods.
Master Trainer-Led Vermicomposting & Soil Revitalization
“Certified by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, we spearhead organic waste transformation. Having trained 2,500+ individuals and converted over 5 million kilograms of organic waste into rich soil amendments, we revitalize degraded soils and combat climate change.”
Fertile Beeghas
Master Trainer · 2,500+ Trained & 5M kg Waste Scaled
Backing Climate Action & Sustainable Livelihoods
“A commitment to supporting initiatives that focus on climate action, creating a healthier environment, and improving livelihoods. As a Zerodha-funded initiative, we preserve and regenerate ecosystems and serve as key funder of the Millet Revival Project.”
Rainmatter Foundation
Zerodha-Funded · Millet Revival Project Funder
Household Organic Cultivation Amid Heat & Water Stress
“Confronting soil moisture deficits, high heat, and water challenges, community members received hands-on training in organic farming—enabling families to utilize local resources, grow fresh vegetables at home, and sustain positive everyday change.”
Shivani
Team Member · Field Training & Community Impact
Prioritising Prisoner Wellbeing
TYCIA Foundation leads Project Eco-Reform to transform prisons into climate-adaptive, sustainable, and rehabilitative spaces across India.
Karan Kumar
Founder, Eco-Reform & TYCIA
Green Park Extension, New Delhi
“Extreme weather and poor infrastructure heavily impact inmates and staff. Eco-Reform creates low-cost, restorative interventions that scale.”
Institutional Partners
Bridging correctional administration with environmental philanthropy.
Department of Prisons, Haryana
Government Host • Nuh District Jail
Granting institutional access, custodial collaboration, and administrative validation of the 30 Climate Actions Blueprint.
- Compound access & warden-inmate participation
- Systemic endorsement of cool-roof and garden SOPs
Rainmatter Foundation
Catalytic Philanthropic Partner • Zerodha
Providing vital catalytic funding, mentorship, and ecosystem backing to scale regenerative prison models nationwide.
- Catalytic funding for eco-infrastructure retrofits
- Ecosystem network support for nationwide replication