Sada, Colvale jails to grow medicinal herbs

PANAJI: In a bid to rehabilitate undertrials and convicts in Sada and Colvale jails, the inspectorate general of prisons (IGP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Himala drug company to train inmates in cultivating medicinal plants.
As part of the project, the company will provide seeds of medicinal herbs to the inmates, who will grow them and supply them back to the drug firm.“The program will be launched over an acre of land in Sada and Colvale. We will provide seeds and technical know-how. Neem, kalmegh, tulsi and alfalfa seeds will be provided.
“The inmates will start with alfalfa as it can be planted during any time of the year and produces a high yield over a short period of time,” said Sharat Sutrave, head-manufacture, Himalaya drug company.
The rest of the herbs will then be slowly incorporated into the program. The program will provide inmates with a monthly income and a few skills that could help them once their prison term ends.
“Our company aims to enable prison inmates to envisage a life outside the prison walls...the initiative has already met with tremendous success in Andhra Pradesh, where it was launched in two prisons in Ananthapur and Vizag. After Goa, the objective is to take the initiative pan India,” said Sutrave.
IGP Elvis Gomes, said, “We strongly encourage prison reforms at our department.”
TOI had reported in April this year that the state government had granted ‘in-principle’ approval to the proposal (prisoner rehabilitation programme) of the herbal healthcare product manufacturer.