Jailhouse Rock

That is all set to change. Beginning this Monday,the Tihar Haat is going for a makeover. “The process started with the Haat launching its website on October 25. And online purchasing should start within two months or so. Now that paper work is over,we will start renovating the place and hope to launch a ‘new look’ Tihar Haat before the year ends,” says Tihar Jail Factory Deputy Superintendent Pradeep Sharma.

Apart from the usual breads,namkeens,cookies,carpets,school and home furniture,shirts,paper products,etc,the revamped Tihar Haat will have an art gallery with works of inmates displayed for sale. The Tihar nursery will continue to be part of the outlet. Attractive packaging and inviting interiors are the primary aims of the renovation process,according to Sharma. Quality can be taken for granted,he claims,adding that the prison’s bakery school boasts of an ISO certificate.

What makes these products unique is the fact that they have been manufactured by 600 of the around 1,200 inmates as part of their vocational training programme. As Jagmohan explains,“The glass diyas are made by our women inmates and the bakery items mostly by the men.” The USP lies in competitive pricing,he adds.

Besides getting remuneration,the inmates are also getting valuable training in crafts that can ensure them a livelihood once they go back to the outside world. Training programme also includes designing footwear and apparel.

“A fixed percentage of the money earned through these products is given to the inmates as salary and rest is used for development work inside the jail,” says Sharma. Jail Number 2 houses a weaving factory,carpentry section,chemical section,paper unit and tailoring factory. The turnover: Rs 10 crore during 2009-10.