Burail jail inmates earn Rs 14.19 lakh from sale of furniture they made

Through the sale they earned a profit of Rs 14.92 lakh which also goes to the state exchequer.

The raw material and machinery for the furniture cost Rs 1.43 crore, while Rs 41.83 lakh was paid as the GST to the state exchequer.

Five carpenters who were outsourced to train the inmates were paid Rs 18.32 lakh.

“We earned the maximum portion of Rs 2.32 crore after selling the furniture items to government departments in UT and other states. One of our main customers is UT education department, which ordered the jail administration for the school desks, benches, chairs and other furniture items. We also accepted the personal orders for the manufacturing of furniture but those orders are always delayed due to the overworking in the factory,” the AIG-cum Superintendent said.

Sources said the 68 inmates working in the carpentry factory were convicted in various offenses included murder, rape, kidnapping, robberies, dowry death and other crimes.

For the wages, the jail administration has divided the inmates into three categories— unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled. While unskilled workers get Rs 60, Rs 70 is fixed for semi-skilled and Rs 80 for skilled inmates.

Sources said that there is also fixed deadline for the construction of some items. For instance, a wooden chair should be ready within 36 hours.

Model Burail Jail houses around 1,100 inmates, including 450 convicts, of which nine are women. All the convicted women working with the kitchen. The inmates were also engaged in other activities related to agriculture and bakery.

‘MOTIVE IS TO REFORM’

Amount spent on raw materials, machinery: Rs 1,43,14,489

Total sales: Rs 2,32,41,855

GST: Rs 41,83,534

Wages for 68 convicts: Rs 14,19,000

Salaries for 5 outsourced employees; Rs 18,32,520

Profit made: Rs 14,92,312

(Figures for financial year 2018-19)