Daily wages for prisoners in Maharashtra might soon see a hike, if the recommendations of a committee appointed by the government are accepted. After finding that wages paid to prisoners in the state are lower as compared to other states, the government formed the committee that is expected to submit its findings in a month. Various industries are run from state prisons against which prisoners are paid depending upon their skill and nature of work.
Confirming the development, director general (prisons) Meeran Borwankar said, “I have taken up the inquiry and will submit the findings soon.”
Ms Borwankar, who heads the committee, is also joined by the joint labour commissioner, director of the state Industries Directorate, and the deputy director general of prisons.
Principal secretary in the home department, Medha Gadgil said, “The commission is appointed with a view to bring our daily wages in prisons on par with other states. We are expecting them to submit their findings soon.”
The state has 44 prisons, including Arthur Road in Mumbai, Yerawada in Pune, Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai and other jails in Thane, Kalyan, Nashik, Nagpur and Kolhapur. Industries including carpentry, leather works, handicrafts and office stationery are run from prisons where inmates are paid on a daily basis. While skilled prisoners are paid `40 per day, semi-skilled and unskilled inmates are paid anywhere between `17 to 35.
“A large part of the wages is sent home by inmates, while the remainder is used to buy items from the prison canteen. These are too low for their financial sustenance,” said an official from a state prison. Some of the money is also kept in the custody of the government and is handed over to the prisoner at the time of his release. Interestingly, it is mandatory for government departments to buy 70 per cent of the products from state prisons.