Food prepared by the prisoners in the various jails across Kerala had instantly become a sensation. In Kochi, the number of food items sold through the counters in front of the jails has increased after the women's jail got merged with the Kakkanad district jail.
The latest item to make an entry into the menu here is the soft, sweet unniyappam made by the women prisoners. The newly opened juice counter is drawing crowds. Besides, a counter will soon be opened to sell fish that are grown and harvested in the jail premises.
About Rs 27 crore was contributed to the state treasury by the district jail since it began the food production unit in 2012. This year, it has registered a profit of Rs 75 lakh so far. The delicious dishes prepared in jails are high in demand. The food is mostly sold through the counters in front of the jail on the Seaport-Airport road and also through online delivery. Home delivery of online orders was started 6 months ago which proved to be incredibly successful.
The combo pack which includes chicken biryani, chapattis, chicken curry and a litre of drinking water is sold online for just Rs 125. Other dishes prepared in the jail, too, can be ordered online.
You can order food online from 11 am to 4 pm. The chicken biryani is sold at Rs 60 while the delicious chicken curry costs Rs 25. You can buy chapattis for Rs 2 and egg curry or vegetable curry for Rs 15. Those who buy food directly from the jail counters can sit there and eat it.
A mobile food distribution unit, too, has begun by the jail authorities. It functions primarily from the High Court junction in Kochi. The authorities said that arrangements would soon be made to start cake making as well. The jail cakes would be launched near the Christmas-New Year season.
