Turning industrious, a group of district jail inmates here have made beautiful chairs for four schools following their orders for the same around three months ago. The chairs would be used in the classrooms. The inmates have prepared around 500 chairs during last three months.
Schools, including Manav Bharati, lucent Public School, Jim Pioneer and Government Inter College in Uttarkashi placed the order for 100, 50, 200 and 150 chairs respectively. Before placing the order, school officials selected the design of chair out of the set available with the jail.
After receiving the order, jail authorities purchased raw material required for preparing the chairs and deployed a welder (inmate) and a fabricator (inmate), lodged in the jail, to train around 20 inmates for the purpose. The duo trained around 20 inmates who were also put into task of making chairs.
Cost of chair may vary from Rs 950 to Rs 1,350, depending on its shape and size. Jail authorities claimed that the chairs prepared by the inmates are sustainable and were available at affordable price. They were also planning to take orders for making chairs for the hostels since some hostel owners have contacted the jail authorities for it.
Jailor SK Sukhija said, “The group of inmates involved in making the chairs, are not only expert in making chairs but they can also produce good beds and folding. Other groups of inmates area involved in producing ornamental solar lights, using bamboo and little bulbs.”
He said that jail administration always laid emphasis on promoting skill development of the inmates since it helped in enhancing their income. He said that profit made by selling chairs and other things produced by the inmates was deposited in the Doon Jail Independent Cooperative labour Service for the welfare of the inmates. It was distributed among the inmates. The jail officials are delighted over completion of order on time. Sukhija said that the jail administration was working on promotion of the jail brand chairs and tables.
He said that if anybody wanted to prepare chairs, he might contact the jail administration for it.
He said that the chairs and other items prepared by the inmates were available at reasonable price. “Quality is always taken care of. When anyone places the order, inmates are made available raw material of quality. This is the reason, several people are contacting for making the chairs,” Sukhija added.
Sukhija said that people might place an order for making chairs on phone: 0135-2771488.
Jail authorities carried out inspection at the factory on the jail premises also consult express as and when required. Simultaneously, the inmates are apprised of various new designs in demand at the market. They make chairs following the designs also.