Inmates to get fish farming training at Dum Dum Correctional Home

Kolkata: The state Correctional Administration department is taking up a project of fish farming for the inmates at Dum Dum Central Correctional Home (DDCCH).

The training for fish farming will be imparted by the State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC), who will also train the inmates on cutting and processing of fishes and making fish fillets.

"Fish farming in a scientific manner will be taken up in a pond which is situated inside the premises of DDCCH. The inmates will also be trained in preparation of various fish items. They will cook the stuff in the kitchen run by them inside the Home in association with an NGO and our vans will be taking them for door-to-door sale in different parts of the city," Soumyajit Das, managing director of SFDC said.

SFDC also has plans of developing a fish processing unit at the premises of DDCCH.

Das, who recently paid a visit to the DDCCH, was highly impressed with the garden inside the Home, that has been maintained by the inmates.

"We have four gardens surrounding our large waterbody at Nalban Food Park. We will be taking assistance from the inmates in beautification of these gardens. The inmates involved in this activity will be brought at Nalban Food Park thrice a week for gardening," he added.

It may be mentioned that inmates at the Home have fish items in their menu list thrice a week.

"Once they take to fish farming in the pond, we can increase fishes in their regular food chart," a senior official of the Correctional Administration department said.

The department has plans to extend this activity of fish farming to other correctional homes in the state, if this project augurs well.

"We have been taking various measures for rehabilitation of the inmates, once they are released from the prison. This is a major stride in this regard," a senior official said.