Staff Reporter,
Barpeta, January 21: The field inside District Jail, Barpeta covered by mustard, trees laden with fruits and vegetables, a mini bee farm, and ever rarer crops like the nutritious apple berries. Spread over 127 bighas, the Barpeta Jail has a holding capacity of 413 (368 males and 45 females). Initially established as a makeshift jail in Barpeta Town, it was relocated to its present location, just 2 kilometers outside the town, in 1970. Previously, the jail grounds were predominantly used for paddy cultivation. The initiative to introduce mixed cropping can be largely attributed to the efforts of District Jail Superintendent Pranjal Kumar Sharma and Jailer Nilutpal Kakati. Thanks to the new initiatives kickstarter around a year ago, the jail generated revenue of over Rs 1 lakh for the government through the sale of agricultural produce alone. Agrarian activities are predominantly conducted by inmates on the premises, keeping them engaged and helping them learn new skills. Additional District Commissioner Jayanta Bora, who recently visited the facility, has stressed that being engaged with agriculture could inadvertently help the inmates steer themselves away from a life of crime and become honest citizens. It is to be mentioned that the jail authorities have recently started planting strawberries and several varieties of flowers (including 1,000 rose shrubs) to uplift the mood of inmates as well as employees at the jail.
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