Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 11 Dec: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today instructed officials during a meeting of the Jail Development Board at the Secretariat to implement a ‘One Jail–One Product’ scheme in all jails across Uttarakhand. He said regular programmes must be organised for the skill development of inmates and that training in various trades should be arranged through ITIs operating within the prisons. Emphasising the need for a distinct, state-specific model for jail development, he also called for a structured approach to reform and capacity-building within the prison system.
The CM directed that products manufactured in jails should be utilised in government offices to promote self-reliance and ensure meaningful engagement of inmates. He also instructed the officials to conduct periodic inspections of food arrangements in prisons to maintain quality and hygiene. During the meeting, it was decided that laundry machines would be installed in Central Jail Sitarganj, District Jails Almora, Pauri and Tehri, and Sub Jails Haldwani and Roorkee, following the positive outcomes observed after their installation in District Jails Dehradun and Haridwar. He further directed that adequate arrangements for doctors must be ensured in all prisons to strengthen healthcare facilities for inmates.
It was also decided to set up a ‘kacchi ghani’ mustard oil plant at Sitarganj Open Jail, while approval was granted for mushroom farming units at Sitarganj and Haridwar Jails. It was stated that the bakery units established in District Jails Haridwar and Almora, Central Jail Sitarganj and Sub Jail Haldwani have generated an income of nearly Rs 12 lakhs. Additionally, the cowshed established at Sitarganj Open Jail has yielded an income of Rs 10 lakhs, reflecting the growing economic potential of prison-based enterprises.
Among those present at the meeting were Principal Secretary RK Sudhanshu, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Additional Director General, Police (Prisons), Abhinav Kumar, Secretary C Ravishankar and other senior officials.
