The Directorate of Prisons and Correctional Services, Himachal Pradesh putting its best foot forward and contributing to environmental conservation efforts added another feather in its cap by launching organic manure.

The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Himachal Pradesh Somesh Goyal said, “Marking the world environment day, we have launched organic manure, Kaara Vermicompost which is totally organic, especially prepared for the use of city dwellers in particular who find it difficult to procure organic manure for their plants and gardens.”

This initiative has been adopted as a part of the ‘Swachh Bharat Campaign’, he said, adding that all the prisons in the state have started vermicomposting, instead of burning or throwing away the bio waste.

Initially it is being made available at all ‘Pehal’ stores at Model Central Jail Nahan, District jail Dharamsala, District Jail Shimla (Kaithu) and also available online at www.kaarabazaar.in and soon it will be available at all prisons, he added.

He maintained that the Kaara Vermicompost which is 100 per cent organic made by inmates has numerous benefits, besides being 100 per cent organic it provides excellent plant growth, increases soil fertility and improves soil nutrients.

The organic manure is available in packages of 1 kg, 5 kg at the cost of Rs. 25 and Rs. 100 respectively, he added.

The directorate’s initiative of running a Book Café at Takka Bench adjoining the historic Ridge last April is already receiving an overwhelming response.

HP has been amongst other states spearheading for prisoners welfare and rehabilitation. And finds mention in the last released Prison Statistics of India 2015 by National Crime Record Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs for best practices in the field of prisoners’ welfare and rehabilitation.

The other states include Karnataka, Kerela, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Naidu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jarkhand, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir.

vocational training imparted to prison 126 inmates in HP during 2015 include Agriculture (10), Carpentry (8), Tailoring (13), Weaving (14) and other miscellaneous (81).

There are 5 mobile canteens being run which have been introduced in three jails for providing mobile canteen facility so that public can be benefitted by good quality food at cheaper rates and enable prisons earn some income, maintains the report.

Dairy farming in district jail Dharmasala, Model central jail Kanda (Shimla) and Model Central Jail (Nahan), Dry cleaning unit and car washing service station in district jail Dharamsala and Bakery units established in district jail Dharamsala, Model Central jail Kanda (Shimla), open air jail Bilaspur and Model Central Jail Nahan.