The city folks will soon be treated to chapathis and chicken curry prepared by prisoners. The Prison Department has decided to install a chapathi-making machine at the district jail in Kakkanad.
Director-General of Prisons Alexander Jacob told ‘City Express’ that the machines will be installed in Kollam and Ernakulam district jails similar to the ones in Viyoor and Poojapura Central Prisons which have become very popular.
The Home Department gave the green signal for the purchase last month. The machine for making chapathis in the district jails would be purchased through open tender which have been called. The production of chapathi and curry from jail will begin from next year.
A packet of five chapathis and chicken curry will cost only `25, whereas a plate of vegetable curry with chapathis costs `20. Around one hundred prisoners would be engaged in making chapathis and 20 for preparing curry.
According to Alexander Jacob, chapathi and chicken curry have become a rage among the people of Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram. “About `4 crore has been earned by the Prison Department with the sale. Drawing inspiration from the success we have decided to start the programme in other district jails also. After installing it in Ernakulam and Kollam we are planning to start the same project in all other jails,” said Alexander Jacob.
The Prison Department will start other projects like production of bakery items and installing solar panel for generating electricity at Thrissur and Kannur Central jails.
But Ernkulam district jail officials believe that the issue of water shortage has to be addressed first. “We still depend on private water tanker. A bore-well was dug last month yet water connection has not been procurred. There are funds allotted to cultivate vegetables and tapioca but due to severe water shortage no such cultivation could be made till now,” an official in the jail said.
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