Prison ropes in private firm to provide jobs to woman inmates

AURANGABAD: The authorities of Aurangabad Central Prison have roped in a private company to provide proper employment to woman inmates, who are taking up the petty job of winnowing wheat and rice at present.
The Aurangabad Central Prison houses about 90 woman inmates, including 35 convicts. The authorities said only convicts are made to work, while undertrials are not allowed outside the cells.
As part of the initiative, an entire set-up has been established on the prison premises wherein 22-odd women inmates will get Rs 200 for an eight-hour shift.
DIG (prisons) Rajendra Dhamne said, "Jails across the state have a number of jobs as well as in-house factories and shades to work from. The women inmates never had such kind of an arrangement, forcing the administration to keep them busy with petty work."
The authorities said after signing an agreement with the private company, a leading manufacturer of automotive locking systems right from two-wheelers to four-wheelers, an exclusive shade has been established on the premises.
Prison superintendent Bapurao More said efforts are on to provide jobs to all the 35 woman convicts. "Moreover, we have also asked the private company to provide proper training as well as experience certificate for the work done to these inmates," he said.
The company has appointed a woman supervisor at the workshop, who will coordinate with the prison-appointed supervisor.
Jailer Rajaram Bhosale said, "As part of our rehabilitation programme, we are keen on providing work to the convicts so that on completion of their sentence, they can find a job and lead a normal life.
He said the jail administration is also talking to the private company to hire woman convicts after they complete their sentence. "We have requested the private company to hire woman convicts, who are done with their punishment. There are positive signs from the company and we are hopeful some development in days to come," he added.