RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: The century-old Central Prison in Rajamahendravaram has become a hub for reform. Convicts are getting reformed to live as responsible citizens on completion of prison term. They are also being trained in various trades and crafts so that they can earn their livelihood. Several former prisoners are now earning decent sums and living dignified lives.
According to Central Prison superintendent M Vara Prasad, as many as 300 prisoners are engaged in making steel furniture, such as steel benches, tables, almirahs etc. Those working in the steel furniture making are earning up to Rs 5000 per month.
The central prison is supplying the furniture to government schools in East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and other districts.
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has provided the latest equipment used for making steel furniture.
The prisoners are also making coir mats, pillows, blankets, towels etc and are supplying the finished goods to government institutions and private parties. The Central Jail is marketing these products in the brand name of Sudhar.
The Central Prison produces as many as 250 litres of milk daily from the dairy farm maintained by the prisoners in the open air jail. Computer training is being provided to those inmates who have passed Class X. An amount of Rs 40,000 has been sanctioned to the library to procure new books. As many as 89 prisoners are studying MA and 89 are studying BA in the Dr BR Ambedkar Open University.
The High Court accorded permission to a prisoner to undergo a surgery to reduce obesity in a private hospital, for which an amount of Rs 3 lakh will be spent, he said.
The government is spending an amount of Rs 20 crore on various developmental activities in the Central Prison. Construction of an administrative block and barracks to accommodate 240 prisoners have been completed. A 50 bed hospital and a modest kitchen with all facilities is also coming up.