Parappana Agrahara jail bakery products to be sold online at discounted prices

In a major reform initiative, bakery products prepared by inmates of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison will soon be made available to the public through online platforms at prices 25 to 30 per cent lower than market rates.

Bakery items including cakes, sweet and savoury biscuits, bread, cream buns, rusks, honey cakes, puffs, cookies and other products are currently being sold at a prison outlet located about one kilometre from the jail. The products have received a positive response from local residents.

Encouraged by this response, the Prisons and Correctional Services Department has drawn up plans to expand the market reach through online sales under the ‘Nava Sankalpa’ programme. Director General of Prisons Alok Kumar said bakery products are already being supplied for government programmes, and preparations are underway to deliver these products to the public online.

The Bengaluru Central Prison houses over 4,000 inmates, including more than 2,000 convicted prisoners. Each convict is assigned work based on individual interest and skill, with daily wages fixed by the department. Inmates are trained in various fields including bakery, carpentry, electrical work, garment manufacturing, data entry, dairy farming, tailoring, welding, paper bag making and more.

BigBasket Tie-Up Likely

Officials said discussions have been underway for the past month to enter into an agreement with BigBasket to sell prison-made bakery products online. The agreement is expected to be finalised in the coming days.

Selling these products at 25–30 per cent lower prices is expected to increase demand and gradually introduce other prison-made products to the wider market.

Training and Expansion Plans

To further enhance quality, inmates involved in bakery production are being trained by food experts from Hyderabad. The products have also received positive quality certification from government offices where supplies are being made.

In addition, the department plans to sign an agreement with Hindustan Computers Limited (HCL) in the first week of next month to open kiosk-style outlets at airports and railway stations for the sale of prison-made furniture, textiles, leather goods and other products.

Loan Support for Released Prisoners

DGP Alok Kumar also revealed plans to introduce a loan assistance scheme for released prisoners to help them start self-employment ventures. Discussions are underway with nationalised banks to provide loans of ₹2–3 lakh, a model already implemented in some other states.

“An agreement will be signed with BigBasket to sell prison-made bakery products online at subsidised rates. Tie-ups with HCL will help sell prison products at airports and railway stations,” said Alok Kumar, DGP, Prisons and Correctional Services Department