Prisoner-made floating candles to light Jammu on Diwali

Jammu, Oct 20 (UNI) Hoping to spread the message of love and brotherhood from behind the closed walls, the jail-manufactured floating candles will hit the Jammu markets this Diwali.

Floating candles have been introduced for the first time inside the District Jail Ambphalla as inmates are busy manufacturing a huge stock of candles, which will be sold on cheaper rates during the festival of lights.

''The candles are being manufactured inside the Jail for the past so many years under title 'Roshni' with an attempt to make inmates self-dependant so that after being released, they lead a normal life,'' Rajni Sehgal Superintendent Jail told UNI.

''Every year, 'Roshni' candles are in high demand but on this Diwali we will offer something different to the customers in the shape of floating candles, which have been introduced recently while inmates were also trained to manufacture these candles,'' the SP added.

Ms Sehgal asserted that earlier, floating candles were imported here from other states but now the people of Jammu will have local-made candles to celebrate the occasion.

''Not only in different colours but candles are also in attractive shapes and sizes and will be sold on reasonable rates,'' the SP Jail added saying, ''our target is to manufacture and sell around 3 lakh candles on this Diwali.'' Ms Sehgal however, revealed that the profit generated out of the sold goods would be divided into three parts and the share would go to the inmates, families of the victims and the government fund.

Besides candles, products like fiber cloth, handicraft and other hand-made items will also be displayed at the counters to be installed specially outside District Jail and other venues, she said.

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