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VOL. XXIII NO. 23, March 16-31, 2014
Now, shop at Prison Bazaar

The Prison Bazaar in Puzhal – and the 'Freedom' vermicompost it sells (inset).

Normally, only anxious family members and fri­ends frequent the outside of the grim Puzhal prison complex in the suburbs of Chennai, as they wait to meet their loved ones. Of late, there has been a new flurry of activity, more smiles and light exchanges. And the recently opened Prisons Bazaar of the Prisons Department of Tamil Nadu Police is the reason!

The 600 sq ft outlet on the periphery of the Puzhal prison campus, on the Grand North Trunk Road, has no hoardings to attract people and looks like a typical government-run super- market. “However, once you step in, you can get anything you want, from sweet Mysore Paks to delicious vegetable fried rice, vermicompost for your garden or even organic keerai for the kitchen!” says an official. The ‘prison bazaar’ at the Central Prison was launched by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, through video conferencing, on December 9, 2013.

Mooted sometime in May 2013, the idea was to set up separate bazaars for products from the nine central prisons in the State – in Chennai, Salem, Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Madurai, Vellore, Palayamkottai and Coimbatore. Chennai has three campuses – Puzhal Central Prison No.1 and No. 2, and the Women’s Prison.

Earlier, ­inmates of these prisons had been involved in making a ­variety of products, that were used so far only by government departments and not sold to the public. Now products such as readymade garments, confectionery items, footwear, detergent soap/powder, candles, mosquito nets, raincoats, masala powder, vermicompost packets and vegetables are available to the public too at nominal rates. A bakery unit at Puzhal Central Prison-I was recently opened. And as prisoners bustle around making delicious smelling breads and cakes, there is not even a minute to spare, with products being lapped up as fast as they are made!. “People are now flocking to the store to buy goods because they are impressed with the quality of the products displayed,” an official says.

Meanwhile, as part of the Green Prisons Programme facilitated by Nizhal (a Trust involved in sensitive greening) across all the central prison campuses, organic vegetable patches are being tended, nurtured and harvested enthusiastically under the guidance of organic farming experts. Also, plastic litter is consciously reduced and leaf and kitchen waste converted into beneficial, healing compost! All these are now being sold in the prison bazaar.

The Puzhal outlet was initiated with a State Government grant of Rs.10 lakh. “Now that it is doing well, we have instructed Superintendents of the prisons in Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai, Cuddalore, Salem, Vellore and Palayamkottai to start similar outlets,” a senior official confirms.The bazaars on the prison campuses have entrances opening out on to the road for easier access. “The exclusive products manufactured in each prison will be sent to outlets in other prisons, too. The bazaars will work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day,” a prison official says.

Following the launch of the first outlet and gratified by its popularity, another counter was opened outside the prison headquarters in the CMDA building in January. All items sold – leather goods, bakery items, readymade clothes, mats, footwear, handicrafts and paintings by prisoners – come under the brand name ‘Freedom’, and are displayed for sale on the ground floor of the prison headquarters.

Senior officials say that they are also looking for options beyond prison complexes and prison offices to sell these products using efficient marketing strategies and best commercial practices to ensure that pricing is on a par with other retail outlets. The system is aimed at creating skilled manpower in the prisons that will enable prisoners to lead a life of dignity after their release, but also assures them of an income from the sale of products while serving their sentences.

As I noticed the neat packets of Freedom vermicompost available in the prison bazaar outlets, at Rs.10 per kilo, and the organic keerai, thakkali and vazhakkai stacked neatly on counters, I wondered, “Will the prisons across Tamil Nadu be soon initiating trends for the nation toward greener, more organic lifestyles?” A distinct possibility – and the time is just right!

-Shobha Menon

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In this issue

People's Marina
Madras Landmarks
Work on Elevated Expressway again
Now shop at Prison Bazaar
Learning from Trains
Anglo Indians bond in Southern India
Our Own MIT
History Written in gold
No Chitale stamp-Each different

Our Regulars

Short 'N' Snappy
Readers Write
Quizzin' With Ram'nan
Madras Eye

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