Tucked away from the Tiruchi-Pudukottai national highway is a small building on the Central Prison premises where a set of convicts have taken up the productive vocation of ironing clothes.
The unit started recently is yet another proactive initiative of the Prison Department to rehabilitate convicts serving lengthy terms.
Three convicts – all lifers – have been engaged in the ironing unit located a few metres away from the Prison Bazaar.
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The convicts not only press clothes of the Prison Department personnel, but also those of police personnel and general public at a cheaper rate. The trio form part of the group of convicts chosen to man and run the Prison Bazaar, say prison officials.
The prison authorities handpicked the three convicts for the ironing unit after checking their character and good behaviour inside the jail.
The unit began functioning after iron boxes were provided by the Prison Department. The tariff for each dress material is Rs. 2 for Prison Department personnel, and Rs. 4 for general public, says a prison official. Silk saris were being pressed at the rate of Rs. 15 per sari.
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The convicts start their work around 8 a.m. and wind up at around 6 p.m. The tariff for ironing the clothes is to be paid at the Prison Bazaar and the bill along with the dress materials is then given to the ironing unit.
Besides enabling the convicts to earn wages, the ironing unit provides a chance to the prisoners to interact with public and get rid of any negative thoughts by keeping themselves productively engaged all through the day, says an official.
Convicts lodged in the Tiruchi Prison are already engaged in manufacturing file pads, readymade garments, oil soaps, tunic coats, and sanitary napkins in prison industrial units.