DEHRADUN: Visitors to the Uttarakhand Trade Fair have been making a beeline to the stall selling goods manufactured by inmates of Doon jail. Wooden sparrow boxes, colourful carpets and a whole host of handicraft and wooden items are on display, and many of these are selling like hot cakes. The sparrow boxes, especially, are quite the rage.
"These wooden nesting boxes look good, are reasonably priced and can be hung outside in the garden. They will definitely help in stemming the decline in the sparrow population in urban areas," said Kavita Malik, a resident of Dehradun soon after she bought a 'Save Sparrow' box.
The fair began on February 11. The stall of the Khadi Gramodyog Board stocks the products made by the jailbirds. Ever since the fair began, over 100 sparrow boxes have been sold.
Safi Ullah, who has been training the inmates of the jail in the manufacture of handicrafts, said, "I have been teaching those lodged in the jail how to make things for about five years now. Over 100 inmates take sessions with me." Ullah was also instrumental in displaying the things manufactured in the jail at the fair.
"We had sold out all the things we first brought for the stall, and had to call for more. These are what the inmates make in their spare time. Given the popularity of these things, we expect overall sale figures to touch Rs 85,000, at least," Ullah said, adding that almost all the sparrow boxes had now been sold.
Ullah said the bird boxes were being made for over a month, and were aimed at giving to urban sparrows a safe nesting place. Besides the nests, the inmates also weave carpets and stitch clothes. They manufacture furniture and artefacts.
Doon jail's handicrafts have also found display space at Delhi Haat and the popular Surajkund fair.
An official at the jail said, "Ever since Dehradun became the state capital, the increasing construction of high-rises, climate change and radiation from mobile towers has caused a shrinkage in the number of sparrows. The save-sparrow box is among the most popular items made by our jail inmates."
