Modernised Textile Mill Opend At Central Prison
A modernised textile mill at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh for providing employment to the convict prisoners of Coimbatore Central Prison was inaugurated by the Director-General of Police (Prison), R. Nataraj on Wednesday. The textile mill that was earlier producing 1,200 metres a month now has the capacity to produce 8,500 metres. Mr. Nataraj said that the cloth manufactured by the prisoners would take care of the uniform requirements of the personnel from the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services and Prison department.
Efforts are on to talk to private security agencies for supplying uniform materials to them as well so as to market the entire production. The cloth manufactured by the textile unit at Coimbatore Central Prison has already been certified for its quality by the cloth testing centre at Taramani. The objective of opening industrial units at central prisons was for imparting skills and to provide them with employment. The skills acquired therein would help them make a living for themselves on their discharge from the prison.
Special prisons for women at Vellore and Tiruchirapalli were manufacturing handicrafts while the Vellore Central Prison was manufacturing furniture through its carpentry unit. Opening up of such employment generation units would be given higher impetus in the future plans and added that with 25 per cent State funding and 75 per cent Central funding prisons across the State would be modernised and expanded at an approximate outlay of Rs.400 crore. Mr. Nataraj also inaugurated a computer centre and library for the family members of the prison security staff.
Addressing the prison inmates, Mr. Nataraj said senior citizens and differently-abled prisoners were being given exclusive attention in terms of serving their needs. Mr. Nataraj also handed over colour television set and a carrom board to the prison inmates. He said prisons are not punishment centres but places for reformation. One should realise one’s mistake and reform. He assured that good conduct will be rewarded in terms of remission of sentence. The Deputy Inspector-General of Prisons, Coimbatore range, R. Durairaj, and Superintendent of Prisons, Coimbatore, P. Govindarajan took part in the function.
