Prison-made goods on display at ‘My Nation’ stall at Numaish 2026 in Nampally.
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement
In a move aimed at bridging a gap in its vocational rehabilitation programme, the Telangana Prisons Department is planning to establish a Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Cherlapalli Jail exclusively for inmates.The proposed ITI is expected to offer training in modern and industry-relevant trades, including computer skills, Data Entry Operator (DEO) courses, electronics repair, food processing and renewable energy, besides other vocational courses. The objective is to give inmates skills that can translate into employment after their release.At present, inmates are trained in about 20 trades across prison industries, ranging from steel, manufacturing, carpentry, tailoring, weaving, farming, soap-making, agarbatti production, paper-bag manufacturing and beekeeping. However, the Prisons Department acknowledges that inmates currently do not receive recognised certificates on completing most of these vocational programmes.The proposed ITI is intended to address that limitation by bringing certified vocational training into the prison system. Officials say recognised qualifications could improve the employment prospects of released prisoners, particularly at a time when social stigma remains one of the biggest barriers as they return to the mainstream.The move comes against the backdrop of an expanding prison-industry programme. As on date, 1,622 inmates are engaged exclusively in prison industries, where they receive wages according to their skill level. Daily wages range from ₹100 for unskilled work to ₹200 for highly skilled work.
