Comfortable chairs for cops, made by convicts

S Ahmed Ali TNN

February 16, 2014
Mumbai: Some of the best designer furniture in several police stations across the city, especially chairs, are made by convicts inside Thane prison. Besides gift items like leather goods and pens made by the convicts, there is a huge demand for teak furniture, particularly wooden revolving chairs. Ironically, demand for most of these chairs are from Mumbai and Thane cops.
    Several police officers claim the chairs (in pic) are very comfortable and durable compared to the iron chairs available in the market. “I was visiting a colleague in Thane when I saw this chair in his office and learnt he had bought it from the prison showroom. I found it was very comfortable. Though it is made of wood, it comes with a revolving mechanism which can be adjusted. Moreover, the chair costs just Rs 5,000,” said inspector Ashok Khot of the Anti-Robbery Squad. “It is very comfortable and has an elite look. Despite being made of wood it blends well with a modern office,” said Vivek Bhosle from the city crime branch.
    The overwhelming popularity of the chair has left a huge gap between demand and supply. Also in demand are tables, rifle stands and wall hangings, all made by convicts. Prisoners convicted for various offences are allowed to work in jail and earn 10% of the product’s actual cost. “For example a convict makes one chair in two days and earns around Rs 50 to 100, depending on how quickly and cleanly he makes one,” said a Thane jail official.
    Jayant Prabhu, in-charge of Thane prison, said, “There are 260 convicts in Thane jail who are manufacturing goods. There is a huge demand for the chairs as they are made of solid teak wood brought by the government from Amravati forest. Many of the chairs are crafted by Nigerians convicted under the NDPS Act.”
    Nigerian Juddo Einthem, convicted for 10 years for possession of drugs, said, “Initially I found very difficult to even cut wood but other inmates made me a perfect carpenter. I feel when I am released I will pursue this as my profession.”
    The Thane jail handicraft shop, situated right outside the prison, is now closed for renovation and will soon reopen as a bigger showroom. While the Thane prison mostly makes small products, other jails in the state like Nashik, Yerawada and Kolhapur have bigger manufacturing units which make bedsheets, blankets and other linen, besides khadi material.
    The state government has given in-principle approval to allow small-scale industries to outsource work to over 38 prisons in Maharashtra. The industries set up manufacturing equipment in prisons and explain their working to the prisoners.