BARPETA: The District Jail, Barpeta, in Assam, is surrounded by vast fields teeming with mustard, trees laden with fruits and vegetables, a mini bee farm, and ever rarer crops like the nutritious apple berries bloom. Spread over 127 bighas, the Barpeta Jail has a holding capacity of 413 (368 males and 45 females).
Initially established as a makeshift jail in Barpeta Town, it was relocated to its present location, just 2 kilometers outside the town, in 1970. Previously, the jail grounds were predominantly used for paddy cultivation.
The initiative to introduce mixed cropping can be largely attributed to the efforts of District Jail Superintendent Pranjal Kumar Sharma and Jailer Nilutpal Kakati. The jail generated revenue of over Rs 1 lakh for the government through the sale of agricultural produce alone.
Additional District Commissioner Jayanta Bora, who recently visited the facility, stressed that being engaged with agriculture could inadvertently help the inmates steer themselves away from a life of crime and become honest citizens.
The highlight of the farm is a small berry farm, housing around 200 trees producing several precious variants of the fruit—Apple Berry, Miss India, and Thailand Berry.
Two of the officials at the jail—Jailer Nilutpal Kakati and Warder Hiteshwar Hazarika—were recently awarded by the Government of Assam for their exemplary services.
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