Bhadrachalam jail launches eco-friendly agarbatti unit using temple flowers
Dr. Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, inaugurated a unique agarbatti manufacturing unit at the Bhadrachalam special sub-jail. The initiative converts discarded temple flowers into eco-friendly incense sticks, ensuring temple cleanliness while offering inmates dignified employment.
Kothagudem: The Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, Dr. Soumya Mishra inaugurated a new agarbatti manufacturing unit at a special sub-jail at Bhadrachalam in the district on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, she said that the unit was the first-of-its-kind established in a special sub-jail. It would convert used temple flowers from the sacred temple of Bhadrachalam into charcoal-free, eco-friendly incense sticks. This innovative model ensures temple cleanliness, promotes environmental protection and provides meaningful, dignified employment to inmates.
Dr. Mishra noted that prisons must evolve into centres of transformation, skill development, and hope. The waste-to-wealth initiative is an example of how discarded materials, especially daily temple flower waste, can be turned into valuable products besides offering the inmates a chance for self-improvement.
The Prisons Department is committed to prepare inmates for responsible reintegration into society through structured training, disciplined work culture and confidence-building opportunities, she said.
The official appreciated the staff for establishing the eco-friendly agarbatti making unit and informed that similar sustainable industries will be expanded across the State.
The first pilot unit launched at district jail in Karimnagar proved a success, resulting in positive behavioural changes, improved discipline and increased work responsibility among inmates, she added.
Bhadrachalm sub-Collector Mrinal Shrestha, IG Prisons N Murali Babu, DIG Prisons Warangal Range M Sampath, Khammam district sub jails officer A Sridhar, the special sub-jail superintendent J Upendar, staff and inmates took part in the programme.
