Goa police, in its initiative of rehabilitation of prisoners and to display their skills, have opened a store at Panaji – Heera petrol pump outlet near KTC bus stand. It is first of its kind outlet in Goa which deals in handicrafts, pottery and carpentry items made by Colvale jail inmates.
Directorate General of Police (DGP) Jaspal Singh inaugurated the store on Tuesday, February 27 and has appealed the general public to visit the stores to support this initiative. He further stated that this might help in reducing recidivism and divert the prisoners’ negative strategies towards positive utilization.
Jail officials has informed media about their plans to open more such stores in due course of time. Inspector General of Prisons Omvir Singh Bishnoi, Sunil Maharana divisional retail head, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) Goa were present during the inauguration ceremony.
Referring to the brand CJ store, Singh informed that earlier in Delhi, similar effort was undertaken by Tihar jail in coordination with India Oil Corporation (IOC). “There are many inmates who are artistically gifted. All over the country there are efforts that inmates also be directed towards positive tasks, and their skills should be utilised”, he added.
Bishnoi said that there are many units in the jail. Eight people are making candles. With the help of IOC, we are planning to start a bakery for female inmates and apart from that there are also plans to prepare masala that would be sold to hotels and households.
“Ninety-eight inmates are enrolled for skill development and the department of handicrafts is providing training,” said Bishnoi.
