Hungry Kya? Head to Tihar Jail

Tihar Jail, South Asia's largest prison complex located in New Delhi, is today serving up delicacies -- cooked, served and operated by inmates -- and earning rave reviews.

Situated on the periphery of the jail complex in Tilak Nagar, the Tihar Food Court is part of the jail’s rehabilitation programme for prisoners.

The eatery, sited half a km (0.6 mile) away from prisoners' dormitories, serves everything from sandwiches, samosas and snacks to thalis.

With a spacious interior lined with wooden tables and walls adorned with paintings done by prisoners, the 50-seat restaurant has been praised for the polite behaviour of its employees, who were trained by a prestigious nearby hotel management school.

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Restaurant manager Mohammad Asim, who has spent 14-1/2 years in jail for murder, said there are around 50 customers every day, with each worker paid Rs 74 for the day's work.

The deluxe thali is the priciest item, costing Rs 150 rupees, while samosas are among the cheapest, at Rs 10.

"Those who come once to have our food come back again," Asim said.

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The eatery is connected to the prison store that sells prison-made goods such as cookies, pickles, potato chips, clothing and even furniture under the brand-name TJ’s.

To be eligible to leave prison and work in the restaurant, inmates must have kept up an "unblemished record" through at least 12 years of imprisonment, besides a high school education.

Prisoners eligible to be released within two years are picked for the job, to minimise their temptation to escape. They travel to work by cycle or on foot, as authorities "trust them enough" not to need a security escort.

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Tihar jail spokesperson Sunil Gupta said, "The main idea is to reform, rehabilitate and re-integrate the inmates back into the society. Through such initiatives, we want the public to become aware about the measures that are being taken to reform the prisoners."

More workers will be brought in if the workload increases, Gupta said, adding that "earnings of the restaurant will be used in welfare programmes for the jail inmates." 

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The restaurant has received good response and the people are excited about the kind of food that will be served here.

This initiative is a part of the 'Happiness programme' which, together with the help of Art of Living, is aimed at helping the inmates get rid of "physical, mental and emotional" stress, so as to transform their behaviour and lives.

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