KOLLAM: The Prison Statistics India-2015, published the other day by the National Crime Records Bureau, has brought ‘three’ cheers to the state. The state which spends the highest on welfare activities of prison inmates in the country has been acknowledged for its innovative programmes like opening up a cafeteria, a boutique, a beauty parlour-cum-hair salon and its ‘Share Meal’ programme.
The state stands third when it comes to the gross sale of products manufactured by jail inmates.
Under the head ‘Best Practices in the Field of Welfare and Rehabilitation of Prison Inmates,’ the Prison Statistics lists out four programmes initiated by the Kerala prisons. Namely, a cafeteria-cum-takeaway counter for the sale of food items at the Central Prison, Thiruvananthapuram; a boutique opened on the campus of Central Prison, Thiruvananthapuram, for the sale of fashionable readymade dresses produced by jail inmates; a beauty parlour-cum-hair salon named ‘Freedom Expression’ at Central Prison, Kannur, and the ‘Share Meal’ programme introduced at the Ernakulam District Jail which envisions the distribution of food to the poor.
Meanwhile, officials with the Kerala Prisons said that they were committed to introducing such programmes which were not only in tune with the changing times but also would bring revenue to the department.
The officials had told ‘Express’ that they were looking beyond the conventional programmes like food processing, apparel making and organic farming and would soon operate fuel bunks along with an automobile repairing service centre. The fuel bunk is expected to come up at four places - Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kannur and Cheemeni. They had also tipped about starting Thiruvananthapuram-model cafeteria in Thrissur and Kannur.