Punjab Jails and Cultural Affairs Minister Sohan Singh Thandal today inaugurated Punjab's first ultra-modern fully automatic bakery unit at Central Jail, here. This particular bakery unit has been set up with a cost of Rs 61 lakh and is first of its kind in the state. This unit has a capacity of producing 15-20 quintals of good quality biscuits and other bakery products daily, which can even be supplied to other companies as well as other jails of the state.Thandal was also accompanied by Mr Madan Lal Bagga, President, SAD Ludhiana-1, Mr Hira Singh Gabria, President, District Planning Board & former minister, Mr Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary (Home) and Mr Rajpal Meena ADGP (Jails), besides several others.
While speaking on the occasion, Mr Thandal said that with the setting up of this bakery unit, the tender of supply of biscuits for Central Jail Ludhiana has also been cancelled as now the new bakery unit has the capacity to produce these products on its own.He further informed that very soon, five new ultra modern jails would be set up in Punjab and said that the barracks in these jails would have all kinds of basic amenities, besides facility for sports and yoga. He said that with the setting up of these jails, the issue of shortage of barracks would be automatically checked.Mr Thandal informed that the Punjab government is committed for the welfare of inmates and that is why several efforts are being made to train them in skill development.Mr SP Khanna, Superintendent, Central Jail, Ludhiana, informed that the new bakery unit is capable of producing 15-20 quintals of biscuits and other bakery items daily and would provide employment to more than 100 inmates. DIG Jails Mr Lakhminder Singh was also present on the occasion.