Tihar authorities gear up to give good time to inmates around Diwali

Tihar Jail authorities are intent on showing inmates a good time this Diwali. Each of the 10 jails in the prison complex is celebrating a ‘Diwali mela’ of its own.

The series of fairs started on October 21 and ends on Diwali night on October 30.
“We have also allowed inmates to go out on furlough. A lot of requests had come and whosoever was entitled has been allowed to go. Since everybody can’t go out, each jail is celebrating a Diwali mela in the respective jails,” Sudhir Yadav, Director General (Prisons) told Deccan Herald.

All the jails would be lit up and given a festive look. The fairs would have cultural performances by artistes from outside. Along with that, the inmates will get food they might miss in jail – like gulab jamuns, chhole kulche and samosas. Professional cooks will make them.

Yadav said the idea was to create an ambience that the prisoners feel good about, despite being away from their families.

The new Mandoli jail will see similar festivities.

“Around 170-175 people have been shifted to the Mandoli Jail till now and they have also been allowed to organise such programmes. Volunteers of the Panchavati Yoga Asharam may be called for the mela. Besides this, the jail superintendent can also call people known to him for cultural performances,” he said.

The Tihar inmates have already been making a range of products which are being sold at various outlets, besides being used by the jail officials. These include bakery products, carpentry products, handloom and incense sticks.

“The prisoners have been making diyas, candles, idol of Goddess Lakshmi and Ganesha, besides regular products. The bakery is the biggest as it meets the requirement of the jail as well. The bread and biscuits used in the jails are all prepared here,” the DG said.
Yadav said initially they had given the work of branding and marketing to an agency, but now Tihar authorities are planning to do it themselves.

One could see the excitement and enthusiasm on the faces of the prisoners while preparing for the mela. Women prisoners were seen practising dances and making rangoli with acrylic colours at the entrance of the jail.
A stage was also set up for this.

“We are very excited and really thankful to the jail authorities for organising such a programme. We feel that we are not in the jail,” said a convict.