Tamil Nadu prisons No 1 in making Rs 37 crore business

Chennai: Prisoners in Tamil Nadu jails have secured distinction at the national level by topping in business generated with goods produced by them. During 2014, Tamil Nadu prisons reported Rs 36.97 crore in gross earnings, which was the highest in the country with Kerala coming second by generating  Rs 21.43 crore business followed by Bihar jails with Rs 15.74 crore, said the latest NCRB data.

“Government policies, dedicated inmates and a spirited team of officials made it happen,” said J. K. Tripathy, ADGP, Prisons, when DC contacted him. The highest earning per inmate was reported from Kerala with Rs 30,285,  followed by Tamil Nadu with Rs 23,291 and Chandigarh with Rs 16,709.

Tamil Nadu prison officials had been pushing the products,  including clothing, bakery items, paintings, leather goods and handcraft made by the jail inmates through Freedom Bazaar stores in Chennai. They were also trying to market the products in high-end IT parks.