<p>The petition filed by Sumit B Giri (26), who is lodged in Thane Central Jail, also seeks increase in existing wages for the prisoners.According to Giri, of late several industrial workshops in prisons have become non-functional.<br /><br />Prison authorities claim that these workshops -- where things such as leather items, furniture, foods, etc, are made -- are no more financially viable because of rising prices of raw material, and lack of demand for these goods outside.<br /><br />However, Giri contends that these reasons are not "convincing and in fact misleading".<br />He cited the successful examples of Ahmedabad Central jail, where prisoners sell food items worth more than Rs one lakh every day and have even created their own brand.<br />The existing wages in the prison workshops -- wherever they are functional -- are too low, he says.<br /><br />As per the petition, a skilled prisoner gets Rs 663 per month, whereas unskilled prisoner gets less than Rs 340 in such workshops.<br /><br />Public Prosecutor P A Pol said that petition raised an important issue and court may appoint an amicus curie (friend of the court) to represent Giri. The hearing has been scheduled after two weeks.</p>
<p>The petition filed by Sumit B Giri (26), who is lodged in Thane Central Jail, also seeks increase in existing wages for the prisoners.According to Giri, of late several industrial workshops in prisons have become non-functional.<br /><br />Prison authorities claim that these workshops -- where things such as leather items, furniture, foods, etc, are made -- are no more financially viable because of rising prices of raw material, and lack of demand for these goods outside.<br /><br />However, Giri contends that these reasons are not "convincing and in fact misleading".<br />He cited the successful examples of Ahmedabad Central jail, where prisoners sell food items worth more than Rs one lakh every day and have even created their own brand.<br />The existing wages in the prison workshops -- wherever they are functional -- are too low, he says.<br /><br />As per the petition, a skilled prisoner gets Rs 663 per month, whereas unskilled prisoner gets less than Rs 340 in such workshops.<br /><br />Public Prosecutor P A Pol said that petition raised an important issue and court may appoint an amicus curie (friend of the court) to represent Giri. The hearing has been scheduled after two weeks.</p>