Tihar jail, the country’s largest prison, will soon boast of a blanket manufacturing unit to cater to the growing demand for it with the number of inmates increasing everyday and VIP prisoners demanding more.
Inmates at the Tihar Jail are provided with more than one blanket which serves the purpose of a mattress and pillow.
They are provided with two in summers and seven during winters.
Over 13,000 inmates are currently lodged in the prison against the sanctioned strength of 6,250.
“We are planning to come up with a blanket manufacturing unit and work towards it has already begun. Once we have the factory in place, we will not have to depend on outside suppliers,” Neeraj Kumar, DG, Tihar Prisons, said.
However, he said he cannot give a time-frame for it as setting up a factory unit will require raw materials, machinery and manpower.
VIP prisoners are given more blankets so that they can use them instead of a bed.
When A. Raja came to Tihar Prisons on February 17, he was given seven blankets. There were no beds or pillows inside his cell.
“During winter, Raja used two blankets to cover himself up, used four others to sleep and used one as a makeshift pillow,” a prison official said.
Tihar Jail’s Deputy Superintendent (Factory) Prateek Sharma said the demand for blankets go up during winters.
“Depending on outside suppliers has its own advantages and disadvantages. Once we have our own unit we can have good quality blankets for all. This will also increase our employment and income opportunities for convicts,” he said.
“We are also planning to come up with a hosiery items unit and spices unit too.”
