Karnataka: After ban on plastics, prison inmates are making paper and cloth bags

BENGALURU: Sensing an opportunity in Karnataka's recent ban on plastics, the state's prisons department has started training inmates in making paper and cloth bags that are now in great demand. HN Sathyanarayana Rao, Director General of Police (Prisons), told ET that several companies have approached the department for the paper and cloth bags being made by prisoners since the effort began last month. The paper bags are on display at Parappana Agrahara central prison off Hosur Road.

“The prisons in the state are overflowing with inmates. We must use them for productive work,“ Rao said.Several prisoners in the city are already engaged in work such as making and selling bakery products and garments.

“Many shopkeepers are looking for alternatives to plastic bags and so we started to make paper, cloth and jute bags. This will help the prisoners start a livelihood with minimum investment once they leave the prison,“ Rao said. “We started this first in Parappana Agrahara central prison and will gradually extend it to other jails in the state.“

A senior prison of ficial at Parappana Agrahara prison, requesting anonymity , said the department was in talks with paper manufacturers for procuring quality paper. “We want to bring out the best-quality bags with fashion elements,“ this official said. “Bakery products made in the prison have become a success.The paper bags will be another milestone.“