Tamil Nadu has topped the country in earning income from prison product sales. The State has reported the highest gross value of sale proceeds, to the tune of ₹67.08 crore, thanks to the trained workforce of inmates.
According to official sources, the continuing programme for training prisoners in vocational trades has resulted in the production of articles with substantial market value. While Tamil Nadu led the country in profitable prison business, other States closely following were Telangana and Kerala with ₹55.71 crore and ₹24.44 crore respectively in 2023.
Going by National Crime Records Bureau data, the value of goods produced per inmate was the highest in Telangana, with ₹95,187, followed by Tamil Nadu (₹33,984), and Chandigarh (₹32,325). Prisoners engaged in labour are paid a nominal wage based on their skills. Tamil Nadu pays ₹300 for skilled workers and ₹270 for semi-skilled workers per day.
Rehabilitation
As part of the reformation and rehabilitation programmes of the State government, the prison industry was equipped with infrastructure to make textile, leather, aluminium, wax and paper products. The facility has been established at eight Central Prisons, one Special Prison for Women, and one Borstal School.
