A ‘SWEET REVOLUTION’ by Tihar inmates
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream projects of ‘Sweet Revolution’ and ‘Skill India’, a fiveday beekeeping training course for young inmates of Tihar jail was kicked off on Tuesday at jail No 5. As many as 50 inmates, with an age group between 20 and 25 years, participated in the course, started by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
Giving details, V K Saxena, the KVIC Chairman, said that the trainees were apprised of the scope and significance of beekeeping, important considerations and tips to start beekeeping. “After training, KVIC will install as many as 500 bee-boxes in the jail premises – having large greeneries. These boxes will not only produce more than 12,500 kilograms of high quality honey and 300 kilograms of good-quality wax every year, rather it will also boost the flora and fauna in and around the prison as the bees fly around 2 kilometers. Through pollination, crop production goes 25 percent up,” he said, adding, “Besides, the KVIC experts delved upon honey bee species, colony organization, division of labour and life cycle of honey bees; management of honey bee colonies during different seasons.”
VK Saxena further said that practical training was also imparted in examination of honeybee colonies, acquaintance with apicultural equipments, identification and management of bee enemies and diseases, honey extraction and wax purification, and management of bee colonies in spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter seasons. “Our objective is to make the sweet nectar available to each and every family for their daily consumption, following the call of ‘Sweet Revolution’ given by our Prime Minister. Honey helps boosting immunity and purifies blood. Its medicinal value protects the body from major health problems like heart ailments and cancer,” he added. KVIC has already planned to setup 5000 bee boxes in Delhi alone this year at various gardens, farmhouses and colleges, to start community honey cultivation, which will subsequently generate employment too. Director General (Prisons) Sudhir Yadav, in his address, said that after being trained in apiculture or bee farming as part of the rehabilitation and reformation programme for the prisoners, the inmates can learn the skills and utilise it to earn their livelihood when they have finished their jail term. “KVIC, which has become the torch-bearer of ‘Honey Mission’ in the recent past, will provide beehive boxes along with hive stands and other miscellaneous. They will also train us on how to go about it,” he said, adding, “We will soon harvest and sell our own honey. This is part of the reformation and rehabilitation of the inmates.”