Mangaluru District Jail Opens Nursery Run By Inmates Under Green Rehabilitation Initiative

Mangaluru district jail’s recently opened nursery showing ornamental plants by 16 prisoners is currently in the headlines. According to Local 18 Kannada, the district jail has undertaken this activity for the rehabilitation of the prisoners. These convicts will have to earn a livelihood when they get out of jail after they serve their prison sentences. Therefore, they have been taught to cultivate plants. District Jail Superintendent B T Oblesappa was worried about teaching inmates to plant and grow saplings with a non-farming background. He remained successful in teaching the prisoners and lauded their efforts. The Jail superintendent said that arrangements should be made for the sale of such saplings to bring money to the government coffers.

Nursery Training

Motivated by this accomplishment, the District Jail Superintendent B T Oblesappa provided nursery training to 30 other inmates from agricultural backgrounds by the experts. Trained inmates have grown various ornamental croton, hibiscus, jasmine, and royal farm plants in nursery style. A good arrangement has been made for the sale of these plants in a space outside the jail. Information about the sale of saplings is being given to the people by installing banners.

Currently, there is a huge demand for these saplings and it seems that there has been a good response to fulfil this demand from Mangaluru’s natives. Overall, the prison work not only changed the minds of the prisoners but also laid the foundation to lead a self-reliant life which is an applauseworthy initiative.

The Local 18 Kannada shows a vast range of neatly arranged plants kept in enclosures.

As per the Udayavani publication, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mullai Mugilan has officially opened this nursery. As per him, the journey to open a nursery commenced a few months ago when he visited the jail for an event. He was struck by the sight of flourishing greenery within the prison walls. He said that the cultivated plant fields, tended by the inmates, caught his attention. The DC then decided to start a platform for the sale of these plants and thus helped the inmates to serve society in a meaningful way.

The plant sale centre is situated right at the entrance of the jail. It is a collaborative effort involving multiple departments such as the Municipal Corporation and Forest Department.