Tihar Jail launches charkha unit, radio channel

Delhi's Tihar Jail Tuesday launched a charkha (spinning wheel) unit and an FM radio channel while a blanket-making unit will be launched Wednesday, a jail officer said.

The charkha unit will spread the message of non-violence and communal harmony propounded by Mahatma Gandhi and TJ FM Radio will help provide recreation to the inmates, a jail officer told IANS.

Machines and raw materials for the blanket-making unit will be provided by jail authorities. The unit will have a target of manufacturing 10,000 blankets each month.

The inmates would be trained as radio jockeys (RJ). Ten Nigerian inmates and other foreign prisoners are actively participating in khadi activities.

Both the units were inaugurated at Jail Number 4 by Director General (Prisons) Vimla Mehra. Jail Number 4 has 2,500 prisoners while the blanket-making unit will be inaugurated at Jail Number 8, which has 1,800 prisoners.

Tihar Jail houses around 12,000 inmates.