Bengaluru will add a unique and meaningful touch to its Republic Day celebrations this year, with baked goods prepared by prison inmates set to be served as snacks at the Republic Day celebrations at the Manekshaw
Parade Ground in Karnataka on Monday.
The initiative, introduced by the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Department under the Nav Sankalpa programme, is designed to provide convicted inmates with employable skills and instil hope for a better life after their release.
From Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and cabinet ministers to officials and members of the public present at the event, everyone will be served snacks prepared by convicted prisoners as part of the department’s rehabilitation and skill development initiatives.
Currently 1200 convicted prisoners are lodged in Parappana Agrahara. Under the project, 20 prisoners completed a month-long intensive training programme in bakery work, and the department plans to extend similar training to more inmates in the coming months.
The inmates are presently engaged in producing a variety of bakery products, including assorted biscuits, cupcakes and mixtures.
While speaking to NDTV, Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Department Director General of Police Alok Kumar said the department’s focus is on making the initiative competitive and sustainable. He said steps are being taken to explore ways to make these products available to the wider public.
“The department is exploring all possible venues to ensure these products reach the public,” DGP Alok Kumar said.
A CSR partnership with HCLTech, formerly Hindustan Computers Limited, a global IT services and consulting firm headquartered in Noida, are supporting the programme.
“Plans are in place to tie up with BigBasket for direct sales; HCLTech has assured support to sell the products on its My E-Haat platform. This activity is for convicted prisoners and not for undertrials. We want to ensure it helps in meaningful skill development and make it competitive in terms of quality,” DGP Alok Kumar added.
Professional trainers from Hyderabad gave the bakery training for over a one-month period. While skill development activities have existed in prisons earlier, they were not structured with a market-oriented approach until now.
The Karnataka Prison Department is expected to sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding with HCLTech on February 4.
Parappana Agrahara Prison has often made headlines for controversies, ranging from allegations of corruption and security lapses to claims of preferential treatment for high-profile inmates. Past scandals have included reports of illegal mobile phone use and inmates allegedly smoking and partying inside the prison.
Along with bakery training, the department plans to skill inmates in other areas such as textiles, stitching, and allied trades.
