Yerawada jail inmates ‘farming’ their way to a better life

Npnews24 Online Pune: Farming has occupied the minds and time of the inmates of Yerawada Jail these days.

With an aim to change their lives for better, 34 inmates have been taking a trip down to the Agriculture College in the city everyday, to grow several fruits, vegetables and other crops. While the inmates are learning about farming, the Jail administration has earned over Rs 7 lakhs through the project.

Not only would this activity keep the inmates occupied, but farming is one of the major activities that can help the inmates earn parole on account of good behaviour.

For the past one year, starting from April 2018, 34 inmates from Yerawada Jail have been working at the Agriculture College from 8 am to 4 pm everyday. The inmates are paid remuneration of Rs 201 per day, out of which Rs 61 remain with the inmate, while Rs 140 are the earnings of the Jail administration. In the last one year, while the inmates have earned Rs 3,14,592, the Jail administration has earned a revenue of with Rs 7,24,080.

Along with work and income, the inmates have also been receiving training in agriculture, which would make them skilled agriculture labour. Along with vegetables and leafy vegetables, they have also done Rose farming. Right from weeding to harvesting, and different types of farming techniques across the state, these inmates have been learning everything in the past one year.

Farming is amongst the several activities that the Jail administration has started to keep the inmates occupied amongst others like laundry, handloom, bakery, painting, carpentry, etc. There are 16 such activities. Farming is carried out at 29 of the 54 jails in the state.