By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The inmates of the Shillong District Jail have begun to turn over a new leaf in their lives, now that they are toiling hard for some earning and more importantly a sense of respectability.
Many of the convicts housed in the Shillong District Jail and other jails are now being employed in various activities like planting flowers, vegetables and even fruits within the jail premises.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Monday about the initiative, DG (Prisons) Kulbir Krishan said, “The inmates the Shillong District jail have tried their hand at planting Gerbera (African daisies) and this initiative has begun to taste success.”
Krishan informed that around 100 Gerbera flowers planted by the inmates are being sold at a price of Rs 10 each, on a weekly basis.
It may be mentioned that there are almost three hundred inmates currently housed in the Shillong District jail and jail authorities believe that the initiative is largely benefiting the inmates.
The initiative was launched with an intention of providing the inmates with a new and respectful way of living.
A horticulture mission under the North Eastern Himalayan Region was sponsored by the Meghalaya Directorate of Horticulture last year to help the under-trial prisoners (UTPs) and convicts earn some money while still in jail.
“They are earning money as well as learning different techniques of earning a decent livelihood,” the DG added.
It may be mentioned that an area of 248.40 sq m inside the jail premises has been earmarked for planting Gerbera, besides other horticulture crops such as cauliflower, cabbage, radish, French beans and mustard.
It is learnt that the Department of Horticulture is contemplating to open another poly house within the jail premises by this year for growing other fruits.
Besides the Shillong district jail, the initiative has also been implemented in Jowai and Tura district jails.
Krishan also informed that the inmates of the Tura District jail have also planted around 5000-6000 pineapples recently and they are even successfully planting banana and other kinds of vegetables and fruits.