In Saidapet it is bakery items such as samosa, puff and jam bun. In Egmore, it's organic vegetables.
Less than a year since a range of products were launched under the Freedom brand by the Tamil Nadu Prisons, the two outlets in the city seem to have amassed an impressive number of customers.
At Saidapet, two staff are busy delivering requests from 11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m., the peak hours at the Prison Bazaar.
“Over 80 per cent of the products are sold by 4 p.m.,” says a staff at the Saidapet store.
Price and location are the main reasons why the Freedom Bazaar is a hit.
“I shop for items worth at least Rs. 50 every day before leaving home and I get quite a lot. They are reasonably priced and of fairly good quality,” says V. Senthil, a lawyer at the Saidapet Court.
If the Saidapet outlet's proximity to the court works to its advantage, the one at Egmore benefits from the presence of many residential colonies.
“We have many buyers from MMDA Towers and CMDA blocks for the organically grown tomatoes, lady's finger and greens. If the supply of vegetables is regular, we can draw many more customers. Requests have also come for the leather shoes,” says a staff at the Egmore outlet.
“We are looking at more places where Freedom Bazaar can be opened and also at increasing the number of items sold,” says a senior official of the Prison Department. “We will be selling shoe polish and sanitary napkins soon.”
