PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun’s Sudhowala Jail is showcasing products made by its inmates for sale at Uttarayani Kauthik Mahotsav as part of the jail administration’s rehabilitation and self-reliance initiative.
The officials of Sudhowala Jail told The Pioneer that about 70 to 100 inmates are engaged in vocational work at any given time. Multiple workshops inside the jail function as small production units, where inmates receive structured training and paid work in skilled trades. “Inmates are trained in carpentry, furniture making and mat weaving, painting and other crafts using machinery. The objective is to equip them with practical skills so that they can earn a livelihood after release and avoid returning to crime,” said an officer requesting anonymity.
Alongside vocational training, the jail is strengthening its educational programmes. Illiterate and less-educated inmates are encouraged to pursue formal education, with arrangements made for them to appear in Class X and XII examinations through open and private schooling systems.
The prison officials further said that the inmates are also involved in agricultural activities, including farming and vegetable cultivation within the jail premises. The produce is used internally and in some cases, sold outside. The prisoners also manufacture furniture such as study tables and chairs, along with paintings and other handicrafts.
These inmate-made products are being displayed and sold at a dedicated stall during the Uttarayani Kauthik Mahotsav being held in Dehradun’s Parade Ground from February 5 to 8. The initiative is intended to provide inmates with market exposure, generate income and build confidence.
Currently, about 900 inmates are lodged at Sudhowala Jail and most of them are actively involved in vocational programmes, including furniture making, electrical work and other trades.
