Meat, fish and lot of vegetables; do you know how much prisoners are paid in addition to nutritious food?

THRISSUR: The central jails that house the most serious criminals spend Rs 84 lakhs per month on food alone. This is the figure for the four central jails - Poojappura, Kannur, Viyyur and Tavanur. If the figures for other jails are also taken into account, this will be in crores per month.

The prison officials are blamed if either the security is reduced or the health of the prisoners drops. The prisons are maintaining a heavy menu even when there is no money for even vegetable-based food in Anganwadis and schools.

The prisoners' health will be checked and their weight recorded as soon as they arrive at the prison. The food includes mutton curry once a week and fish curry twice a day. The cost has increased due to the increase in the number of prisoners and the rise in the prices of goods. The central prisons, which house lifers, KAAPA convicts and those involved in drug cases, are now spending more money on the food of the prisoners and the wages for the work they do. Many things, including vegetables, are produced in the prisons. The prisoners themselves do the cooking.

The menu is fried fish with rice on Monday, fish curry on Wednesday, mutton curry on Saturday, and rice and curries for lunch every day. Idli, dosa, chapati, uppumavu for breakfast, sambar, thiyal, erisseri, aviyal, thoran, rasam, pulisseri, kappapuzhukku etc. will be served on different days.

Wages for work: Rs 78 lakh

78 lakhs are required to pay the salaries of the prisoners in five prisons. This generates an annual income of Rs 48 lakh. The salaries of the prisoners are different depending on the labour categories. The daily wage is Rs 63 for apprentices, Rs 127 for semi-skilled workers, Rs 150 for skilled workers and Rs 170 for petrol pump workers. Those working in the food unit will get Rs 148. In Viyyur prison, the unit making chapati and curries are run by the prisoners. There is a huge demand for this. Various units like this are functioning in other prisons as well.

In Viyyur prison, rich food is provided to the prisoners. The goat is bought alive, and the prisoners themselves butcher and cook it.

There is a limit to the amount of food given to the prisoners. That is the only amount they are given.

- P.K. Sanoj, former jail warden