The work culture in West Bengal – which has been source of perennial embarrassment -- is not only reflected in the industrial sector of the State but also in its correctional homes. At a time when inmates across the correctional homes in the country are producing goods of considerable value amounting to crores of rupees, West Bengal is at the bottom of the table as far as major States are concerned.
The latest report released by Prison Statistics of India (PSI) 2014 released last week, points out that inmates of 29 States in the country produced goods valuing a total of Rs. 135.9 crore.
Tamil Nadu with about 15,874 inmates produced goods valuing Rs. 36.97 crore, the highest in the country. Among the major States barring the north eastern ones, the inmates of West Bengal has been least productive. With over 20,000 inmates, West Bengal has produced goods worth only Rs. 67.1 lakh.
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The value of goods produced per inmate for the year 2014 in Tamil Nadu is Rs. 23,291, while in West Bengal it is Rs. 334 only. The productivity per inmate is highest in Kerala where every inmate has produced goods valuing around Rs. 30,285. Kerala, with an inmate population of 7,078, has produced goods worth Rs. 21.43 crore.
In fact, there are 16 States in the country, which have garnered more than Rs. 1 crore from the goods produced by the inmates. Among the Union Territories, inmates from Delhi (considered UT as per the report) have produced goods worth Rs. 14.72 crore.
“The productivity of prisons in West Bengal has been low over the last two decades. The gross value of proceeds depends of the kind of products produced and also their marketability,”
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Additional Director General Prisons & Inspector General, Correctional Services, West Bengal, told The Hindu .
Mr. Sharma said that proposals to have a tie-up on public-private partnership basis, involving the Department of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, are also being considered.
Disparity in wages The data from PSI 2014 also reveals that there is disparity in wages paid to the inmates. The inmates of West Bengal are paid lower than many other States. Moreover, in West Bengal, of the 20,000 inmates, about 14,000-16,000 are under-trials and as per the State laws they are not liable to be utilised for performing labour in workshops in the prison. An analysis of the expenses on inmates revealed that there is a disparity in expenses incurred by different States on prisoners. For 20,069 inmates, West Bengal has spent Rs .70 crore at the rate of about Rs. 34,634 per inmate in 2014, while Tamil Nadu has spent Rs. 38.84 crore at the rate of Rs. 24,470 per inmate.
This article has been corrected for a factual error.