THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jail Superintendent Mr. S Santhosh of the Poojappura Central Prison here has said that the prison will soon open a beauty salon, where people can avail quality beauty services at lower rate. The unique venture is part of the state prison department’s various rehabilitation programmes for prisoners. Mr S Santosh said, an unused old quarters building, located near the jail, would be given a facelift and turned into an air-conditioned and well-furnished parlour, exclusively for men. This will be the second such beauty parlour manned by prison inmates in the state, after the ‘Phoenix Freedom Xpressions’, the salon opened at the Cenral Prison in northern district Kannur recently, he said. “Plans are on to open the salon by April-May. Training for inmates in this regard will begin soon. The instructors from two polytechnics in the city will impart training in the beautification course,” the Superintendent told. He further said, “First 20-25 inmates will be given training and employed at the salon on shifts. We have given priority to those who have some knowledge in basic beautification skills like hair cutting, shaving, beard grooming and so on,” he said. The salon initiative is part of a number of rehabilitation programmes and correctional measures taken up by the Prison Department, he said. The jail Superintendent added, the making and sale of chappati-chicken curry combo, cafeteria, organic vegetable farming, manufacturing of shirts are among some of the successful rehabilitation initiatives by the Kerala Prison Department. The Poojappura Central Prison is one of the oldest prisons in the state.]]>
