TIRUCHY:With the festival season setting in, Prison Bazaar - the outlet manned by inmates of the Central prison is gearing up to cater to the demand as orders have started pouring in. ‘Workers’ are racing against time so that they can deliver Deepavali orders for ready made wear even as hectic work is on to churn out sweets and savouries. What’s more, sale of crackers is set to start from November 1.
The bazaar sells commodities as service-oriented business and with the mantra of ‘less gain more quality’, which has earned it regular customers, say prison officials.
Becauase the stress is on quality, inmates are giving their best to meet demand and retain customers. For instance, the weaving and tailoring unit has secured a bulk order for the supply of Freedom brand of ready made shirts.
“An NGO placed an order for 200 shirts last week to be delivered during Deepavali and the ‘workers’ are busy stitching them. A few local commercial establishments and groups have also approached us for shirts and we expect the orders to materialise in the coming week”, DIG Prisons (Incharge) and Superintendent of Prisons A Murugesan told Express.
As many as 50 inmates undertake weaving while 25 are engaged in tailoring and make shirts of several varieties and sizes. Since the cost is fixed between Rs 190 and Rs 500, public approach the bazaar for shirts.
“This would definitely worth double the selling cost if it is made and sold outside. Since we are committed for less profit and more service, the cost is fixed in such a way”, Murugesan said.
Shirts apart, the prison bazaar sells lungis at Rs 140 and blankets at Rs 200.
The baking unit has also received orders for supply during Deepavali. “As many as 15 inmates are involved in making sweets, 10 are employed in the baking section and make at least 200 kg of sweets at a time and that use to be sold out within three days. Since the orders received are for Deepavali, planning has started and we are ready to meet the demand at any cost,” he added.
Further, to supplement the Deepavali celebration, prison bazaar would have a section for cracker sales. The purchase has already been made and sales would start from November 1. “Last year, the cracker sale was around Rs 4 lakh as the sale started late. But this year we have planned it well”, Murugesan added.