The air smelt like freedom, today. Well, at least for the 52 women inmates of the Thimphu District Prison. They had been dreaming about today for the past three months, even more so yesterday. The thought of the big day, the day with an open sky and fresh air to call their own, the thought of second chance at life and the thought of a reunion with their family members kept many of them awake throughout the night.
As they embark on this new journey under the project, Open Prison, these women will be making an honest living at Dawakha in Paro until their prison terms come to an end.
Under the project they will be engaged in farming, a step by the Royal Bhutan Police to help the slowly integrate with the society. Unlike the earlier batches, these women will run an agricultural farm instead of working at the reconstruction of religious sites.
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As part of the new project, the inmates will be engaged in the production of organic vegetables under mechanized farming. The produce will be marketed and income will be given back to them once they are released. Weaving and knitting will also be encouraged.
“Even in the open air we will have to provide food and logistics. It will not cut down the expenditure but the project will immensely benefit them because this will prepare them to integrate with the society and remove stigmatisation,” said the Chief of Police, Brigadier Kipchu Namgyal.
Over 200 prisoners, men and women, have been sent out as an open air prisoners so far. The project was initiated by the Royal Bhutan Police in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, upon the command of His Majesty the King
