Bhopal: Living behind the bars have not disheartened these women as 25 female jail inmates made eco-friendly Ganesha idols for the first time and put them on display. The prisoners belonging to the Central Jail of Bhopal and both Hindus-Muslims communities have made the eco-friendly idols from clay by using natural colours to save environment. A five-day exhibition-cum-sale ‘CJ’s Bazaar, Redefining Life Behind the Bars’ comprising the idols of Lord Ganesha made by the women prisoners is going on at B2, Db City Mall.
Neena Shrivastava, instructor at Bhopal Central jail, who is imparting training to the women prisoners to make clay idols of Ganesha, said “We have got directives from Jail the authorities to make eco-friendly idols of Ganesha. We have been working on it for 20 days, and 25 female prisoners, including both Hindus and Muslims have made 140 idols by using chalk-clay, gum and natural colours. We made the idols in six hours classes at the jail from 8 to 11am and 1 to 4.30 pm.”
She further said “The size of the idols is 10 inches which price ranges from Rs 40 to 50 per idol. It is for the first time that we have got a chance to make green Ganesha, showing the lord seated on throne with lotus in their hands. If we get good response from customers, we will make more such idols.”
Besides the idols, the handloom and handicraft items produced by inmates of six central jails of the state are also on display here, and are getting good response from visitors. The artworks include paintings, towels, mats, dolls, bed sheets, embroidery jackets et al.
Bhopal Central Jail Superintendent, Dinesh Nargave, said “We organised the training for the first time in jail to raise awareness about the importance of eco-friendly idols. Our target is to make around 200 idols. We are also displaying some other items produced by prisoners including male and female of six central jails of MP in the exhibition.
“We used to organise exhibition from time to time. But for the first time it is being organised at the Mall. The idea behind the initiative of Central Jails is to exhibit prisoners’ creativity and also to create jobs for them. So that they may earn money after being released from jail,” added Nargave.
The exhibition will remain open for visitors till August 15 from 11am to 9.30pm.
