Lifers at Presidency central jail turn tailors for school kids

Pouring over sheets of cloth, 45 year- old Barun Mondol and Allauddin Raza, 55, have no time to spare. The hands that once took lives are now stitching uniforms for school children in jail.

Mondol and Raza are not the only convicts and lifers (convicted on murder) at Presidency central jail evoking curious glances as they tailor uniforms for school children, jail staff, chefs and staffs of hotels among others in the hopeless confines of their cells.

The pilot project inside Presidency jail has been a hit and till date nearly a 1000 pieces of shorts, trousers and shirts have been churned out.

“The project, which started in April this year, is doing extremely well. We have given training to the inmates. They are making uniforms from school children, jail staff, security guards of schools and employees of hotels. They’re even tailoring uniforms for jail staff,” a senior officer of Presidency jail said.

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On Wednesday, Arun Gupta, director general of prisons visited Presidency jail and took stock of the ongoing projects including those introduced by the tailoring department.

A team of 17 convicts are working under the tailoring section of the correctional’s manufacturing department, making clothing items.

“The cloth is provided from outside. Our inmates make dresses and uniforms out of them. We have a hall dedicated to the team and they’re provided with sewing machines. They also make uniforms for fellow convicts. The cloth comes from the handlooms at Dumdum jail,” a jail department official said.

The jail department has tied up with hotels, schools and other institutions for supply of dress materials.

“Shirts and trousers for hotel staff, waiters and chefs’ apron are among items being tailored behind bars. The products are being appreciated and orders are pouring in,” a jail officer said.

The state jail department recently carried out renovation at the manufacturing department at Presidency and started training inmates.

The jail department also plans to train convicts in making such leather items as shoes, belts, bags among others. Inmates chosen for the project will be imparted special training from November.