Foreigners visit Tihar Jail, want same facilities in own jails

NEW DELHI: Around 80 foreign delegates, part of the 33rd Asia Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators, visited Tihar Jail. Impressed by the visitor management system, drug de-addiction centre, education programmes, women's jail and jail factory they saw there, the delegates-from 19 countries-said they would replicate the systems in the jails in their country.
"The theme for this year is correction, transformation and re-integration for focusing on improvement of custodial management of inmates through welfare programmes for their re-integration in society," said Tihar spokesperson, Sunil Gupta. The conference at Vigyan Bhawan will go on till September 27, 2013.
Inmates also organized a fashion show and an exhibition of Tihar products, sold under the brand name TJ's, at Vigyan Bhawan on Wednesday. "We will also introduce painting in the jails," said Gupta. The Monalisa painting on display had been commissioned by Tihar DG, Vimla Mehra.
Tihar Jail has roped in as many as 40 NGOs to teach inmates woodcarving, jute binding and handicrafts. Delhi College of Arts too has been approached to teach inmates how to paint. "Tihar pays a maximum of Rs 100 per day to grade 3 prisoners and a minimum of Rs 55 to grade one prisoners. The aim is to generate more funds so that the wages paid to the inmates can be increased," said Gupta.
Tihar Jail authorities have already recorded revenue earnings of Rs 32.50 crore in the current financial year.