After chapatis, Its curry from jail

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Soon, one can get chicken and vegetable curries from the Poojappura Central Prison. Of course, at prices lower than the market rate. Chicken from Nettukaltheri Open Prison’s poultry farm would be used for making chicken curry and vegetables from the Central Prison itself would be used for making vegetable curry. Both would be made available through the prison counter which was opened for the sale of prison-made chapatis. “The chicken and vegetable curries would be made once we get the sanction from the government,” Prison Superintendent B Pradeep told this paper. The market acceptance gained by prison-made ‘chapatis’ prompted the prison authorities to introduce new products.  Chapatis made by the inmates of the Poojappura Central Prison have been a hit in the market. At present, around 14,000 chapatis are being made in the prison every day, 10,000 for sales and the rest for the inmates.Orders for 10,000 chapatis from the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, around 8,000 from the police camp and for family get-togethers and other functions have created a demand of 20,000 more chapatis per day. As the demand increased, another machine was brought from the Kannur Central Prison.The machine would be installed in the women’s block of the prison, which is unoccupied now. “A chapati for just ` 2 is a great attraction, that too without compromising on quality and taste,” Pradeep said.  A packet of five chapatis for ` 10 was something the public welcomed with enthusiasm since nobody is providing an eatable which can be used as breakfast, lunch or dinner at such a low price. At present, 15 inmates are working in the chapati-making unit in three shifts. Chapatis of 30 grams are being made for sale and 50 grams for inmates. Once the new machine starts functioning, 60 inmates would be assigned to the task.The large-scale production of chapatis has been made possible by the introduction of the chapati-making machine, which was installed in the prison in April last.  Chapati-making on a commercial basis was launched on November 28. At a time when kitchens of even star hotels do not maintain hygiene standards and provide only substandard food, the Poojappura Central Prison has created a new model. The Christmas stars made by the prison inmates were also sold out at a pace which surprised the prison authorities. It cost only ` 6,000 for making the stars in bulk, but the return was ` 17,000. But what the prison authorities value high is the changing attitude of the public towards prison and its inmates. “The functioning of the sales counter made a big difference in the public’s attitude. Married couple come together to purchase chapatis and stars. Aversion is now replaced by compassion towards inmates,” Pradeep said.