350 prisoners who went on parole did not return, farm income from Nettukaltheri drops down

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As 350 inmates who were released on Covid special parole granted by the Supreme Court did not return, farming at Thiruvananthapuram Nettukaltheri open jail came to a standstill. The revenue was around Rs 2 crore per annum, which plummeted to Rs 24 lakh. Very few returned voluntarily. In addition to the existing 34 inmates, 30 more inmates have been shifted from Poojappura Central Jail for farming. The state government has asked the Supreme court not to extend parole. The jail authorities hope that the inmates would return if the court order is in government's favour.

Earlier, 50 people were deployed per day for vegetable cultivation alone. The move is to auction off goats and cows because there are no prisoners to take care of them. The rubber plantations generated about one crore rupees a year. More than sixty people were tapping. 1000 sheets per day has now been reduced to 100. Beekeeping also stopped.

Before Covid outbreak, they earned Rs 57 lakh per year from poultry and Rs 6 lakh per year from selling eggs. 10,000 kg of chicken was sold per month. Now it is also at a loss. Thirty thousand fishes are being raised but there is no one to harvest them. Most of the 474-acre prison compound is under cultivation. It is supervised by 57 employees.