Dowry case convict earns Rs 55K by making rotis at Kaushambi jail

Prayagraj: Virendra Vishwakarma (40), serving 14 years of rigorous imprisonment at Kaushambi district jail in connection with a dowry death case, has earned Rs 55,000 while working in the jail kitchen in past seven years. Jail authorities handed over a cheque of Rs 55,000 to his brother Surendra on Monday evening.
Superintendent of Kaushambi jail Ajitesh Mishra told TOI that Virendra, a Vth pass-out, was sentenced to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 16,000 by a court in Kaushambi on Feb 28 for killing his wife for dowry in Charwa village.
Virendra was lodged at Kaushambi district jail on July 20, 2017, in connection with dowry death case registered against him with Charwa police station under section 304 B and 498 A of IPC and Dowry Act case, and since then, he was serving in the jail kitchen, he said.
Virendra had expressed his willingness to work in the kitchen after being lodged at Kaushambi jail and gradually became skilled in cooking, particularly rotis.
Around 3,000 rotis are made every day at the kitchen of Kaushambi jail. While the jail is equipped with a hi-tech electric roti maker machines, inmates have to work on furnace when the machine gets out of order or there is a power failure. The jail has a modular kitchen with electric cookers for dal (pulse) and chawal (rice) bringing a major improvement in the mela prepared for the inmates.
"Rotis are made on electric roti maker machine and manually as well," said a senior official adding "when machine is used, the number of inmates making roti is reduced." Usually, 8 to 10 inmates are assigned for making rotis on the machine.
Mishra said, "Over 200 inmates lodged at Kaushambi district jail are earning wages while working in different sectors like gardening, kitchen work, education, etc." Till now, jail authorities have distributed remuneration (mehantana) worth over Rs 20 lakh among inmates