Indian Bank to employ Tihar inmates at its prison branch

New Delhi: Tihar Jail inmates with proven good conduct and qualifications will soon be working at "non-sensitive" positions at the Indian Bank branch at the prison. "We have been associated with Tihar Jail for the past several years and our branch there today has a business of Rs 100 crore. A proposal to employ Tihar Jail inmates at non-sensitive positions in the branch has been approved and will soon be implemented," Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank T M Bhasin said.

According to Tihar Jail spokesperson Sunil Gupta, inmates of the Semi-Open Prison (SOP) will get jobs like that of peon, security guard and computer operator as per their educational qualification. Prisoners who have a track record of good conduct and are physically and mentally fit are selected for SOP. To be eligible for stay in SOP, an inmate's jail term should be between five and 12 years. So far SOP inmates were allotted work on Public Works Department's projects inside the Tihar Jail complex or at the prison factory.

"The exact details are still to be finalised. We will give the names of candidates who can be hired and the bank management will make the final recruitment," said Gupta. Indian Bank has been closely associated with various activities in Tihar Jail. The recent launch programme of 'Tihar Coffee Table' book was also sponsored by the bank. Last month, as many as 66 Tihar inmates, who were on the verge of completing their sentences, were hired by private companies during a recruitment drive on the jail premises.

Vedanta Group and IDEIM India Pvt Ltd offered the highest number of placements while Taj Mahal Group offered the highest package to Raju Parasnath, who has spent more than eight years in Tihar. Parasnath, who earned the highest package, had completed Bachelor of Social Work from IGNOU during his stay in jail. Taj Mahal Group of Companies offered him a job of Assistant Business Development Manager with a salary of Rs 35,000 per month.