Nagpur Jail Inmates’ Raksha Bandhan Sale

Nagpur : A Raksha Bandhan exhibition-cum-sale featuring products made by inmates of Nagpur Central Jail was inaugurated on Tuesday by Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil, giving the public an opportunity to purchase handmade goods while supporting the rehabilitation efforts of prisoners.

The event also marked the distribution of skill certificates to 270 inmates who successfully completed vocational training in various trades. The initiative is part of the prison department’s broader focus on reform and rehabilitation, aimed at equipping inmates with practical skills and preparing them for a self-reliant life after release.

The prison has several vocational units where inmates receive training as well as remuneration for the work they undertake. These include blacksmithing, weaving, carpentry, bakery work, handloom and powerloom operations, laundry services and vehicle washing, among other activities.

With Raksha Bandhan, Dussehra and Diwali approaching, products made by inmates have once again been put up for sale for citizens.

A dedicated sales centre has been set up within the prison premises near the metro station on Wardha Road at Rahate Colony. The centre offers a range of products, including attractive rakhis made by women inmates, handloom sarees, wooden and metal articles, decorative items, floor mats, seating mats, garments, bedsheets, towels and handkerchiefs.

The sales centre will remain open to the public daily from 9 am to 8 pm.

The prison administration has appealed to citizens to purchase products made by inmates and thereby contribute to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

‘Past cannot be changed, but future can be built’

Addressing the gathering, Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil praised the quality and craftsmanship of the products prepared by the inmates.

He said imprisonment should not remain merely a form of punishment but should also provide an opportunity for individuals to reform themselves and rebuild their lives. Vocational training, he said, plays an important role in enabling inmates to become economically independent after completing their sentences.

Patil urged the inmates to focus on their future and work towards returning to society as responsible and self-reliant citizens.

“The past cannot be changed, but the future can be built,” he said, encouraging inmates to use the skills acquired during their time in prison to create a new beginning after their release.

The District Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Centre provided vocational training to inmates in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, handicrafts, bakery work, solar panel technology, assistant electrician work, cooking and housekeeping.

A total of 270 inmates participated in the training programmes and successfully completed them. Certificates were presented to outstanding trainees by the Police Commissioner during the programme.

The initiative is intended to provide inmates with skills that can help them earn a livelihood after their release and reduce the difficulties associated with reintegration into mainstream society.

The exhibition also carried an emotional message from the inmates, particularly those who will spend Raksha Bandhan away from their families.

Through their handmade rakhis and other products, inmates expressed the sentiment that although they would remain separated from their own families during the festival, their craftsmanship would help other families celebrate the occasion.

The programme was attended by Nagpur Central Jail Superintendent Vaibhav Su. Aage, Additional Superintendent Deepa Aage, prison officials and staff, journalists and a large number of citizens.

Deepa Aage conducted the programme, while Superintendent Vaibhav Aage proposed the vote of thanks.

The prison administration has once again appealed to citizens to visit the Raksha Bandhan exhibition and purchase the inmates’ handmade products, saying that public support can play an important role in strengthening their rehabilitation, skill development and return to society.

Source: Nagpur Today