Patna: Products manufactured by inmates lodged in Bihar’s prisons will now be available for public purchase at two of Patna’s most visited locations — the Khadi Mall at Gandhi Maidan and the Bihar Museum — as part of a rehabilitation and livelihood initiative by the state government.
The initiative was inaugurated on Tuesday by Pranav Kumar, home secretary and director general of prisons, along with Anjani Kumar Singh, director general of the Bihar Museum. The two officials jointly unveiled the products and cut the ribbon at the Khadi Mall.
Speaking at the launch of the prison-made product line branded Mukti, Pranav Kumar said all items on sale had been produced by inmates, with strict attention paid to quality and finishing. He said the initiative was aimed at promoting skill development, dignity of labour and rehabilitation of prisoners through meaningful work.
According to officials, the revenue generated from sales will be shared among prison staff, the inmates involved in production, and the families of crime victims, giving the programme both a reformative and restorative dimension.
Anjani Kumar Singh said the Bihar Museum would gradually expand the range of prison-made products available to visitors. He expressed confidence that the initiative would encourage higher-quality production and wider public acceptance of goods made by inmates.
The Khadi Mall outlet at Gandhi Maidan records annual sales of around Rs 2 crore, officials said, and the inclusion of prison-made goods is expected to significantly expand their reach, allowing products crafted inside jails to enter ordinary households.
Senior officials present at the event included additional home department secretary Sanjeev Jamuar, DIG Jawahar Lal Prabhakar, joint secretary Vinod Kumar Das, AIG headquarters Rajiv Kumar Singh, Beur Jail superintendent Neeraj Kumar Jha, along with other prison and departmental staff.
