‘Jail bhajiya’ unlocked

Sabarmati Jail’s ‘Mobile Bhajiya’ van venture inaugurated with much ‘fanfare’ at Sachivalaya on Wednesday

By Hemington James and Jignesh Barot
Posted On Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 02:54:14 Ahmedabad Mirror

Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Balwant Singh (left) and DGP S S Khandwawala (centre) bite into some crispy jail bhajiyasThe word doing the rounds in Sachivalaya these days is neither transfers nor the fresh targets set after state Budget, it is the availability of ‘jail bhajiya’ next-door. Sabarmati Jail’s ‘Mobile Bhajiya’ van made its first stop at Sachivalaya after being inaugurated by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS Home) Balwant Singh on Wednesday.On popular demand, the fried food made by jailbirds will now be sold at various places in Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad from mobile vans every alternate day.

On the first day, the van distributed about 50 kg of the stuff, apart from 500 veg puffs and 800 ladoos, to at least 600 people, from top cops, bureaucrats to the common man. And all of that was picked up in less than an hour. Doesn’t matter who makes them — hard-core criminals serving terms for murder or assault. Bhajiya House near RTO circle is where the bhajias are made. “It is a good step by the jail authorities. We will help them in their venture,” said Balwant Singh munching happily.DGP S S Khandwawala lauded the initiative saying it would help reform prisoners.

“There are various ways to reform inmates, but this is perhaps the best,” he told AM.The happiest on the occasion was IG (Jails) Keshav Kumar — the brain behind the bhajia business expansion. “It’s great to see the idea fructify. The credit goes to inmates, who are normal people who’ve fallen victim to their circumstances. Our effort is to condition them so that they join the mainstream effortlessly at the end of their sentence. If this model succeeds, we will take it to Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat.”Equally thrilled was Mobile Bhajiya van designer Imtiaz Maniar, director of Maniar Engg Ltd, who said, “The vehicle is equipped with all necessary facilities and storage space. I paid attention to convenience aspects to make the inmates’ task easy.”
Suresh Jethabhai VyasConvicted for: Murder In jail since: 2004 Supplies the mix to the cooks
Ganjibhai Devjibhai Thakore Convicted for: MurderIn jail for: The past 11 yearsFries bhajiya
Naranbhai VitthalbhaiConvicted for: MurderIn jail for: The past 11 yearsFries bhajiya for past six years

Kaluji NagjijiConvicted for: Murder In jail since: 2005,to be released in 2011Chops chilli, methi
Manish AmrutlalConvicted for: MurderIn jail for: Since October 2006Supplies the mix to cooks
Amdaji KasturjiConvicted for: MurderIn jail for: The past 11 yearsServes customers, mans counter