Tamil Nadu

Convicts all set to earn, learn more

CHENNAI: In a move that will benefit convicts and those affected by them, the State Prison Department has chalked out a strategy to enhance the annual prison product value by providing more job opportunities to inmates.

Twenty per cent of a convict’s earnings will now go to the victim or his/her legal heir. According to Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) R. Natraj, the annual prison product value at present was Rs.3 crore a year. This could be increased to Rs.12 crore by making optimum utilisation of the man-days.

District-level committees would assess the earnings of prisoners and deliver 20 per cent of it to deserving cases (on the victim’s side).

Convicts and remand prisoners earn by stitching uniforms, weaving clothes, making soaps etc. While creating more job opportunities with the help of NGOs, jail authorities have also planned to impart training in job-oriented courses. “This process will be set in motion very soon. To start with, a bakery unit is being established at the Puzhal central prison, in association with the Rotary Club. Bread, bun and other bakery products will be produced for local consumption and sale outside. We want to make their skills and products marketable,” he told The Hindu on Tuesday.

In a bid to inculcate the reading habit among convicts, the library would be improved in all prisons. The Theosophical Society had contributed books worth Rs.50,000 to the department. “We have planned to purchase books that will help in personality development besides strengthening moral and spiritual values. The focus is on making the best use of 3 lakh man-days available per year,” he said.

As of now, there are 19,239 prisoners lodged in various prisons across the State.

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