In an innovative approach to prison reform, the Open Prison and Correctional Home near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has become a beacon of change by turning its 472-acre land into a flourishing farm. Located in Nettukaltheri, this facility is challenging traditional views on incarceration by empowering its inmates to become skilled in sustainable farming practices.
Here, prisoners are learning to cultivate rubber, raise cattle, and manage honeybee colonies, equipping them with valuable skills that could aid their reintegration into society upon release. This Onam season, the atmosphere in the Open Prison is particularly vibrant, as inmates celebrate the fruits of their labour—literally. They are harvesting fresh vegetables that they have nurtured with care, embodying the essence of renewal that the festival signifies.
Benefits Of Agricultural Therapy In Kerala's Open Prison
Dressed in white shirts with identification numbers, these inmates—all convicted of murder, whether intentional or accidental—are finding new purpose in the soil. Their days are now filled with the nurturing of plants, watching them grow and thrive.
“There is something called agricultural therapy,” says Rajesh Kumar, superintendent in charge of the open prison. “Nurturing a plant and seeing it flower and bear fruit has a proven positive effect on mental transformation. We hope this will help them lead a happy and crime-free life when they leave here."
The Open Prison houses over 350 inmates, with its annexe nearby. While rubber plantations form the core of its agricultural activities, the facility also includes a variety of other crops like vegetables, dragon fruit, grass, and honeybee cages, making use of nearly all available land within its expansive campus.
However, challenges remain. At one point, vegetable farming was discontinued because the large quantities of produce were difficult to market. The facility, located around 50 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, faced logistical hurdles in transporting the vegetables to the city and could only sell them at rates set by the Horticulture Corporation.
This year, however, the inmates have strategically timed their harvest for the Onam market. "We grow everything here, and this time we cultivated vegetables, aiming at the Onam market," explained Ajith Singh WR, the agriculture officer at the open prison. "On the day of Pooradam, we send these vegetables to the mega Onam mart near our prison headquarters in Poojappura."
The prison's agricultural activities generated a remarkable Rs 2.11 crore in revenue in the last financial year alone. Beyond the financial benefits, these efforts provide a consistent supply of fresh, high-quality produce and milk for the inmates and staff, fostering a sense of community and purpose among those involved.