Pune: Yerawada Jail’s New Canteen Operated By Prisoners To Come Up Near Panchshil IT Park

Reported by Tikam Shekhawat & Sumit Singh

Yerawada, 10th June 2024: On 9th August 2023, the Yerawada Open Jail inaugurated a canteen named Shrunkhala Upahar Gruha near Commerzone IT Park. This initiative has led to the successful operation of a series of canteens across various districts in Maharashtra, benefiting both citizens and inmates. Now, another canteen, Shrunkhala Upahar Gruha 2, will be established near Panchshil IT Park’s back gate in the GST office lane.

Managed by jail inmates (who are convicts and transferred to open jail after years of good conduct), these canteens mark a positive step by the prison department towards inmate rehabilitation through a network of eateries. The canteens are operating under the guidance of Amitabh Gupta, Additional Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General (IG) of the Maharashtra Prison Department, Pune, and Deputy IG (Prisons) Swati Sathe.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Shrunkhala Upahar Gruha 2 took place today. The event was conducted under the guidance of ADG Gupta, Special IG Dr. Jalinder Supekar and DIG Swati Sathe.

ADG Gupta said that this chain of canteens aims to create employment opportunities and urged citizens to avail themselves of this initiative.

DIG Sathe emphasized that the canteen offers a variety of food items at affordable rates and boosts the morale of inmates while facilitating their rehabilitation.

The program was attended by Nitin Vaichal, Principal of Daulatrao Jadhav Jail Officer Training College, Pune; Sunil Dhamal, Superintendent of Yerawada Central Jail, Pune, along with Anil Khamkar, Superintendent of Yerawada Open District Jail, Pune; Rajendra Marle, Senior Jailer, Nisha Shreykar, Jailer Grade-2, and other jail officers and staff.