They will make automobile parts for Japanese brand

About 50 inmates of Tihar Jail will soon be engaged in manufacturing automobile components for a Japanese company as part of an initiative to create more employment avenues for prisoners.

Sunil Gupta, Tihar Jail spokesperson, said an MoU is on the verge of being signed with Minda Furukawa Electric for a public-private partnership. The company manufactures harnesses for cars and is a major component supplier for Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki.

“The project will be set up at jail number two. Three rounds of meetings with top management brass of the company have resulted in an in-principal approval for implementation,” Gupta said.

A Tihar Jail delegation has also visited Minda Furukawa Electric’s factory at Haryana’s Rewari district for having first-hand information about the manufacturing process. “We have decided that adequate space and dust-free manufacturing sheds, as required in harness manufacturing, will be provided,” Gupta added.

The manufacturing sheds will be designed and maintained by Minda Furukawa Electric. Once started, the project will employ about 50 inmates and provide them wages in consonance with mutually agreed terms. “It will also teach them modern techniques and new trades. Trained inmates will have an opportunity of employment when released,” Gupta said. The jail authorities are upbeat about the tie-up. “This shows faith and confidence reposed by companies in the Tihar Jail set-up,” he added.

Other contributions

Tihar Jail factory already has an agreement with Reliance Fresh and Vishal Mega Mart for sale and distribution of its products.

Set up in 1961 with the objective to engage prison inmates in productive work, the jail factory presently has around 700 inmates working in its several units. The jail administration also runs several vocational and on-job technical training programmes for skill development, reformation and rehabilitation of prison inmates in these units.

“Its annual turnover which was over Rs 18 crore during past year is likely to have a big jump and may cross Rs 26 crore during the current financial year,” said Vimla Mehra, director general (prisons).