Did You Know You Could Buy Biscuits, Durries, Clothes & More Made By Inmates Of Yerwada Jail?

Pune’s historic Yerwada Central Prison has a Maharashtra Jail Industry retail shop, where you can buy products made in-house by the inmates. Biscuits, furniture, bed linen, carpets, bags, lamps, clothing, shoes – are just some of the things you can buy off the rack here, or by placing a custom-order through the showroom.

Situated on old Airport Road, the Jail Industries Maharashtra Shop is just on the corner of the turn onto the Jail Road; sharing a space with the State Bank of India. Currently, only a portion of their total output is showcased at the shop. Factory Manager Mr. Nitin Kshirsagar says that most of their orders for larger items are shipped out straight from the factory itself, but they have look-books you can go through to pick and choose. Famous for their teak-wood furniture {patio chairs, divans, carved mandirs, etc.}, there is often a long waiting-list for custom orders. We love their range of textiles – cotton towels {INR 95 – INR 146 onwards}, blankets {from INR 387 to INR 482}, printed bedsheets {from INR 315 to INR 700, with 2 pillow covers}, and multi-coloured dhurries {starting from INR 148 for 2×2 size, to INR 3548 for 12×8 size} make great additions to any home. Ironing is also provided as a service, costing INR 4.72 per piece of clothing, and INR 11.80 for sarees. Their smithy department produces home decor like lamps, sofa sets, and even BBQ grills, priced between INR 150 to INR 400, depending on the size. Men’s shirts {INR 410 onwards}, pants {between INR 410 – INR 600}, leather belt {INR 295}, hand-crafted leather shoes and Kolhapuri chappals {INR 560 to INR 1000} are usually available in-store. Ladies’ clothing like blouses, Paithani sarees {INR 2000 onwards} and jewellery are more widely available during festival season, through a larger display area outside the shop. Woodwork items like trays, stools, bird-houses and various knick-knacks are also on display, and for purchase. You simply must try their baked goods – nankhatai {INR 28/200g}, sesame biscuits {INR 29/200g}, oat biscuits {INR 42/200g}, and khari puffs are delicious, and worth every penny.

Though the jail’s factory {through which they operate} has been in business since British times, the current retail shop was only opened in 1989. Almost all of the inmates at both the men’s and women’s sections of the jail are put to work – trained in vocational skills by instructors from different industries. The objective is to reform and rehabilitate them, by teaching them useful skills. Not only is this good catharsis for the inmates, but they receive working wages {around INR 61 to 71 depending on the type of work}, and modular employable skill certificates at the end of their term, which can help them get employment and/or start their own businesses in the outside world. Even celebrity inmate Sanjay Dutt was put to work during his time here – making bags and textiles. The men’s factory focuses on smithy, carpentry, textile dyeing, painting, handloom, powerloom, leatherwork, powerloom, paper making, laundry, painting (art), car servicing and cleaning. The women’s factory makes handicrafts like crochet items, handicrafts, jewellery, clothing, textile products, as well as hand-painted diyas and pretty lanterns {at Diwali time}.

It’s good quality merch, and what you see is what you get. Prices vary according to the cost of the raw material + worker’s wages + GST  {but are still cheaper than other retail stores}, so check with them at the time of placing your orders. All products are sold under the brand ‘Maharashtra Karagriha’, and apart from the shop at Yerwada, you can also find them at college festivals, markets, and exhibitions around Pune. Stay tuned for their special Diwali exhibiton – the biggest one of the year, inaugurated by a celebrity guest – which takes place at the shop itself, around 5 days before and after Diwali.