This is a story of some women who had nowhere to go and no one to look for them. They had left their home for a better life but the dark damp cells of a jail became their permanent address. For them, life was meaningless and an anecdote of endless wait--an effort to kill time so that time comes and kills them.
But these 30-odd women, mostly from Bangladesh, were caught while trying to cross the border. In the last three years, through their sheer determination and indomitable zeal, they have turned the wheels of fortune in their favour. In 2009, the West Bengal government, teaming up with NGO Balivara OFFER (Organisation for Fellow Feat Empowerment and Reconstruction), launched an unique initiative to train inmates of Dum Dum Correctional Home in weaving various jute items so that they can earn while serving their term in the jail.
“The training was for two purposes. It allowed inmates to spend some quality time and by using this training they could earn a decent amount for their future,” Inspector General of State Correctional Homes Ranvir Kumar told Deccan Herald.
“The money which they earn will be deposited in their account and will be given to them on their release. They can use this money for a better living,” Kumar said.
“Though the programme was meant for all those who are interested, in the first phase 30 inmates, including men, underwent training. But only 20 women, mostly from Bangladesh, formed a group and took up the job seriously,” Satyajit Ganguly of Balivara OFFER told Deccan Herald.
“At present 30 women, mostly from our neighbouring country, are weaving coasters, bags, cellphone covers, bucket bags, caps and purses from jute threads from behind the bars. The coasters are very popular and we, with the help of some other organisations, export good quantity of coasters to Australia,” Ganguly said.
“Apart from Australia, the products are also marketed in Bengal through various shops,” he added.
Speaking about the project, Ganguly said: “Actually we had received a small grant from NABARD in 2009 for training which will help in employment generation. We negotiated with the state government and with the help of that money started the training programme”.
“After that when we saw the interest among inmates we started supplying them raw material and gave a fixed amount for each piece as their labour charge. Every article has a separate charge. For example, we pay Rs 4 for a four-inch coaster and Rs 70 for a cap,” Ganguly said.
Now, the NGO supplies raw materials worth around Rs 40,000, including about 70 kg jute cotton lining and thread. Apart from that they pay around Rs 54,000 as monthly wage.
“Besides instruments needed for weaving, we provide them modern designs and international specifications to enable them to produce quality products. They are very skilled and are producing an array of handmade jute products which are really appreciated in the international market,” Ganguly said.
When asked how much the inmates earn, Ganguly said: “Women from Bangladesh are very poor and they have actually nothing with them.
Through the project they can from Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,000, which, to them, is a huge amount. We deposit the money with the jail authorities so that they can use the money after their release.” The jail authorities said that women are allowed to take coupons in lieu of money and buy articles for daily use from the jail canteen.
Admitting cthat oasters are a huge hit abroad, particularly in Australia, Ganguly said: “Last year we first started delivering four-inch coasters to exporters. It was an instant hit and now we are sending 500 to 1,000 pieces every month. There are quality specifications and the rejects are sold in domestic markets. We are also planning to send it to the US and European countries”.
When asked how they find overseas buyers, Ganguly said: “Being an NGO we are not permitted to export directly. Some organisations help us in finding buyers and we sell the products through them. Also, we go to buyers-sellers' meets to identify potential buyers.”
Maoist problem
Whether they have any plan to extend the project to other correctional homes also, Ganguly said: “Actually we started a similar programme—weaving of jute sleepers in Mindnapore Correctional Home but had to be stopped because of the Maoist problem. There are lots of inmates with Maoist connection and naturally the jail became a high security zone and we had to suspend the programme”.
“The government is not ready to allow others inside or periphery of the high security. It is necessary for us to send our trainers, project managers and project co-ordinators for the project. This is a technical problem and we are trying to sort it out with the government,” Ganguly said.
“Once we get a go ahead from the government we will start the project again,” Ganguly added. “We definitely want to launch this project in other correctional homes but we are facing problem of initial capital. Generally, funds are given to us by donor organisations. When we started the project at Dum Dum Correctional Home we got the financial assistance from NABARD. But now the bank has stopped funding these projects,” Ganguly said.
“Once we get donors, we will start the project in other correctional homes too,” he added.
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