Jail launches self-employment training for inmates
By IANSFriday, February 18, 2011
SAHARANPUR - In an attempt to make jail inmates self-employed, the prison authorities in this Uttar Oradesh city have tied up with a multi-business conglomerate for training them to manufacture incense sticks, an official said Friday.
The Saharanpur district jail administration has tied up with ITC Limited for imparting the vocational training to the prisoners.
“The main objective behind undertaking such a programme is to make the inmates self-reliant for earning their living and support their families from behind the bars,” Senior Jail Superintendent Ram Dhani told reporters in Saharanpur, some 500 km from Lucknow.
According to the officials, under the upcoming project, initially ITC staffers will train the jail inmates in making incense sticks. On successful completion of the training, the inmates will prepare the incense sticks from the material to be supplied by ITC and would be paid for their job.
“The labour charges for the inmates would soon be finalised,” said Ram Dhani.
“The best thing about the training is that those completing it would be able to use it as an employment generating tool even after they are released from the jail,” he added.
According to officials, the training programme is expected to be initiated within two months.
“It would be launched in a phased manner. We are trying to enroll maximum inmates for the training programme. At present, there are around 1,000 inmates in the jail. Of the 1,000 inmates, 120 to 125 are women,” said an official.
