They have Freedom to sell products

Tiruchi Prison Bazar offers vegetables, sweets, savouries, and readymade garments at reasonable price

R. Duraisamy (right), Deputy Inspector-General of Prisons, at the inauguration of Prison Bazar at Tiruchi Central Prison on Thursday. Photo: M. Moorthy

Now people could cook the vegetables grown in the prison garden, and taste the sweets and savouries prepared by the inmates of Tiruchi Central Prison. They can also use the garments made at the garment unit functioning at the prison. The Prison Department has opened a Prison Bazar near the main entrance to the Central Prison for marketing these products.

R. Duraisamy, DIG of Prisons, inaugurated the bazar on Thursday.

The project aims at enhancing the variety, quality, and quantity of prison products, and making them available in the retail market. With Freedom as its brand name, the prison products will deviate from the conventional practice of catering to government departments, and enter the open market.

The vegetables, including brinjal, tomato, beetroot, bitter guard, radish, beans, and greens raised by the prisoners in the 50-acre garden will be marketed in the bazar, which will function from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sweets such as laddu, Mysorepak, badusha, and ‘Manapparai’ murukku, and other savouries, will also be available.

The prisoners have been imparted training in manufacturing garments. Readymade garments, woollen blankets, and lungies manufactured by the prisoners will be available in the bazar, which will be manned by the prisoners. Besides, tea, coffee, breakfast, and variety meals would be served, according to D. Palani, Superintendent, Central Prison.

It has also been proposed to market broiler chicken and fish in the bazar within a month.

Fishes are being cultured in two ponds outside the prison, Mr. Palani said. Proposals are also on the anvil to market vermicompost, maize, banana, and sugarcane. Priority would be accorded to quality of all the products sold here, and at the same time the prices would be very reasonable, he said.

K. Jayabharathi, Superintendent, Special Prison for Women, said pickles and readymade garments made by the inmates of the women prison would also be marketed in the bazar at reasonable price.

Similar Prison Bazars are functioning in Puzhal and Palayamkottai Central Prison.