Productivity in Tamil Nadu prisons has topped the country with a total earning of Rs. 36.97 crore last year.
With an inmate population of 15,784, the State has also topped in prisoner rehabilitation, thanks to a variety of educational/vocational courses. In 2012, the State was placed fifth in gross earnings from products of inmates with revenue of Rs 11.56 crore.
Sold under the ‘Freedom Bazaar’ brand, Tamil Nadu prison products made many heads turn when they were displayed at the recently held Global Investors Meet in Chennai where multinational corporate companies showcased their might.
“We engage prisoners in a number of income-generating activities. In 2014 alone, more than 3,000 inmates were trained in vocational programmes, including weaving, handloom and agriculture,” a prison official told The Hindu .
Going by data released by the National Crime Records Bureau, the Tamil Nadu government had spent Rs. 38.84 crore on prisoners lodged in 136 jails, including nine central prisons, across the State in 2014. This expense included food, clothing, education, vocational courses and welfare activities.
Kerala stood second in prison productivity with an inmate population of 7,078 and goods valued at Rs. 21.43 crore. On the rehabilitation front, Tamil Nadu again topped with 961 prisoners being rehabilitated. “Sustained efforts are on to make sure that every inmate leaves the prison with employable skills which will help in merging with the mainstream workforce of the society. Last year 2,185 inmates went through Elementary Education, 1,201 in Adult Education and 699 Higher Education programmes. About 300 underwent computer courses,” the official said.
As many as 4,951 prisoners who could not afford or engage legal counsel were provided free legal aid in association with the Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority.
State has also topped in prisoner rehabilitation, thanks to vocational courses
