PUNE: The inmates of Yerwada Central Jail have organised a sale of their handmade products on the occasion of Diwali. 

The sale was inaugurated by Prison Department Additional Director General of Police Sunil Ramanand at the Jail Industries showroom on the Airport Road. 

The products include lamps, wooden temples, clothes, covers, sweets and more. 

Kunda Jagtade, one of the customers, said, “I have been coming here during Diwali sale for last 4 to 5 years and I find the sofa covers very fine. I also prefer the wooden articles from here which are made of teak wood and also they have a long duration.”

Profit made by the showroom goes for welfare of inmates of  the jail. “We put up the stalls twice every year ahead of Raksha Bandhan and Diwali. The lantern, carpentry, bakery products, handloom, tailoring, shoes, towels, bedsheets, chappals, powerloom, temples made of teak wood are sold in large numbers,” said Santosh Dongargaokar, instructor of the paper factory at the Central Jail.

Another customer, Amey Sonar added, “The foremost thing is all  products are handmade, which attracts me here. Also, the prices are reasonable.”

DIG of Prison  (Headquarters) Swati Sathe said the prisoners are also into making Paithani sarees. 

“It requires high amount of skill and highly skilled workers to produce Paithani sarees. I am glad  some of the prisoners at Yerwada have mastered the art,” Sathe added.

Talking about the products, Ramanand added, “The aim is to provide skill and employment to prisoners, so that they start a fresh life once they are out of prison. The products are of high quality.”