Jail products be supplied to government schools, offices and universities

Ludhiana, July 31, 2014: The Punjab Government is seriously contemplating the move to supply the artefacts, biscuits and namkeen made by inmates of Central Jail, Ludhiana to government educational institutes and offices across the state. It was disclosed by Sohan Singh Thandal, Jails Minister, Punjab during his recent visit to the Central Jail, Ludhiana along with Additional Director General Police (Jails) Rajpal Meena. The Minister said that it is matter of pride for the Jail Department that the inmates in Central Jail, Ludhiana have been engaged in constructive activities.
Divulging the details, Thandal said that at Central Jail Ludhiana alone, inmates prepare one quintal of biscuits of five varieties and more than 50 kg of namkeen everyday in a bakery unit, established by the Jail Department with the cost of Rs.25 lakhs. He said that in this bakery unit, 50 inmates work in two shifts, one from 8 am to 2 pm and second from 2 pm to 8 pm. He said that the technical training to the inmates was provided by the experts of Hotel Management of Lovely University, Jalandhar. He said that the inmates, who have undergone this one month training in the bakery production, further impart this skill to the inmates. Thandal said that the bakery products prepared in this jail bakery has been further supplied to the other jails across the state.
Thandal said that the as the demand for the jail projects is increasing day by day, the Jail Department has been brooding upon the idea to supply the jail products to government educational institute, offices and universities. He said that the senior officers have already been instructed to prepare a comprehensive plan in this regard. The Minister said that it is matter of pride for the whole Jail Department that the variety of products like furniture, soap and tents for police besides clothing for inmates have been prepared in Central Jail, Ludhiana and further supplied to other jails across the state.
He said that more than 70 inmates have also been imparted training by Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana, in such trades like; welder, electrician, carpenter and plumber to enable them to set up their own self-employed occupation after their release.