Now, Tihar inmates to try their hands on bee farming

Tihar jail has joined hands with Indian Agricultural Research Institute to introduce bee keeping in the prison complex to sell honey.

Tihar authorities will soon have inmates trained in apiculture or bee farming in Jail No. 1 as part of the rehabilitation and reformation programme for the prisoners.

With this, honey will be added to the already existing list of edible goods manufactured in the jail factory and sold through brandname TJ.

Rehab programmes

“We will soon harvest and sell our own honey. To accomplish this we have taken help from Indian Agricultural Research Institute. This is part of the reformation and rehabilitation of the inmates,” Mr R N Sharma, DIG Tihar Prisons said.

“The IARI will provide the beehive boxes along with hive stands and other miscellaneous.

They will also train us on how to go about it,” he said.

The programme of bee keeping will be launched on the occasion of Baisakhi on April 13, he said.

Beekeeping will involve maintenance of honey bee colonies in order to collect honey and other products including bees wax, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly.

Skills for future use

Mr Sharma said, “This will help the prisoners in the long run and also allow us to earn revenue.

The inmates can learn the skills and utilise it to earn their livelihood when they have finished their jail term.”

Turnover rises

At present the Tihar Prisons have six units which manufacture bakery products, mustard oil, handloom, apparels, wood products and stationary.

The jail factory's turnover increased from Rs 6.65 crore in 2009 to Rs 10 crore last year.

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