State-run libraries offer to supply newspapers
PANJIM, Feb 15
Newspapers from various government-run libraries will now make its way for a better cause to the Central Jail in Aguada.
The State Art and Culture Department, which runs these libraries, will now supply old newspapers and magazines to jail authorities, who in turn will make eco-friendly bags out of them.
The move stems from the recent paper shortage faced by jail inmates, who are into manufacturing of these bags as part of their rehabilitation project.
Additional Inspector General of Prisons Dipak Desai has initiated this move to rope in the government-run libraries to ensure the bag-manufacturing project is not aborted pre-maturely.
The State has 17 libraries scattered across villages which are run by the Art and Culture Department.
As per a proposal approved by the Art and Culture Department on January 14, Jail officials from Aguada would visit these libraries to collect the newspapers and magazines every fortnight.
Desai said the paper manufacturing unit at Aguada jail was running short of papers.
The proposal of the department states, “Presently the old newspapers are supplied from the Secretariat which are not sufficient. As a result, there is shortage of old newspapers for the said unit. Therefore, it is requested that old newspapers from your office as well as from the libraries under your control may be made available to the unit.”
Jail authorities are buoyed over the response they have been receiving for the paper bags. Desai told Herald that the authorities will begin collecting newspapers by February-end.
Libraries from Bicholim, Curchorem, Honda (Sattari), Mandrem, Valpoi, Quepem, Sanguem and others have already began stocking the unused newspapers. This is the State’s only paper bag manufacturing unit ran from the prison.
Around 140 inmates imprisoned in the fort-turned-jail have been making paper bags for years. The finished products are sold in the open market. Desai said that there are some private firms which are also listed in their client list.
The inmates manufacture at least 10,000 paper bags in a month, which are sold at 45 paisa (small size) and 80 paisa (big).
Interestingly, jail officials have received several orders for the bags. About two months back, handicraft items especially made by prison-inmates were sold in Calangute market by the State Government.
Officials said the items were on sale for three days at the market. The sale worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 was recorded in three days.
A workshop within the jail premises has inmates working on candle making, carpentry items, tailoring and book binding to keep them occupied.
