Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: Inmates in West Bengal’s correctional homes are set to receive a festive treat during Durga Puja this year, with a menu featuring traditional Bengali delicacies such as mutton biryani and chicken curry. Authorities aim to bring the festive spirit into the lives of prisoners by altering their regular meals from Sasthi (October 9) to Dashami (October 12), an official said on Saturday.
The special Durga Puja menu will include a variety of dishes such as macher matha diye pui shak (Malabar spinach with fish head), luchi-cholar dal (puri and Bengali chana dal), alu potol chingri (shrimp with pointed gourd and potato), and basanti pulao (yellow pulao). To top it off, inmates will be treated to mutton biryani with raita and payesh (Bengali porridge), among other dishes.
A Festive Change for Inmates
According to the official, this change in menu is intended to uplift the spirits of the prisoners, both convicts and undertrials, allowing them to partake in the festivities of Durga Puja. “We receive requests for better food from inmates during every festival, and this year, we are introducing a new menu to make the celebrations more enjoyable for them. It’s a positive move to bring some joy into their lives,” the official said.
The delicacies will be prepared by inmates who work as cooks within the correctional homes. However, in consideration of religious sentiments, non-vegetarian food will not be served to all, and prisoners will have the option to select items from the menu based on their preferences.
Festive Meals Across Correctional Homes
This special menu will be implemented across all 59 correctional homes in the state, housing over 28,000 prisoners, including 1,778 women. Among the prominent inmates currently lodged in Kolkata’s Presidency Jail are former state ministers Partha Chatterjee and Jyoti Priya Mallick, and the ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh.
The initiative is part of the ongoing effort to ensure that inmates do not miss out on the cultural and festive celebrations that are integral to the Bengali way of life, even while serving time. Correctional authorities see this as a means of providing a break from the daily routine and enhancing the well-being of the prisoners.
