Dehradun: Woman inmates of Sudhowala prison in Dehradun have enrolled for a fashion designing course to hone their talent in the field of glamour. The group of women, which includes both convicts and under-trials, will be trained by experts from National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. This is the first such move by any jail in Uttarakhand, according to the Women and Child Development Department.On Saturday, officials from the department went to meet the inmates and gave a go-ahead for the first batch, comprising 39 inmates, to be trained. Once they have mastered the skill, the women will be employed by several local firms, for whom they can work from prison. Their products will be sold at state and national fairs. Whatever money they earn will be saved and given to them at the time of their release.Some of the 39 women, who were inclined towards cooking, will be trained in food processing so that they can work for the blooming horticulture industry of Dehradun once they are out of jail.Additional chief secretary of Women and Child Development Department, Radha Raturi said, “These empowered women will set examples for other women inmates and show them a way to transform their lives and become a better citizen. This is a pilot project and based on its results, we will extend the programme to female prisoners across 12 districts of Uttarakhand.”State nodal officer (women empowerment wing), Women and Child Welfare Department, Arti Balodi said, “As these women live in prison, we are trying to unshackle their minds and let them have virtual freedom by following a career of their choice. Fashion designing was picked by a majority of inmates and it has come as a pleasant surprise to us.”

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