Nagpur: Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh is likely to start ‘Jail tourism’ in Vidarbha too. He had first announced the programme for western Maharashtra after his visit to Pune’s Yerawada prison. On Saturday, Deshmukh is set to announce the plan in the city where a British era Central jail is located.
Sources close to Deshmukh said the home minister was keen to start the programme after being briefed by Addl DG, Prison, Sunil Ramanand. After starting it on an experimental basis in western Maharashtra, the home minister wants to implement a similar plan in Vidarbha too where certain sections of the prisons would be thrown open to citizens for visit and study.
As per a senior prison official, some of the south Indian states, especially Hyderabad, had tried to introduce ‘Jail tourism’ to serve the dual purpose of raising awareness about the reformative institution and raise fund for employees welfare. The initiative would earn revenue for the state by introducing ticket system for exploring places of historical importance in jails, rehabilitative units and marketing outlets.