Bakery products prepared by inmates of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison were served to dignitaries and attendees at the 77th Republic Day celebrations in Bengaluru, highlighting a rehabilitation initiative to equip prisoners with vocational skills.
In an unusual but symbolic move at the 77th Republic Day celebrations held on 26 January 2026 at the Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru, bakery products prepared by convicted inmates of the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison were served to chief guests, officials and members of the public.
The snack boxes included items such as biscuits, savoury mixtures (namkeen) and cupcakes, accompanied by dry fruits, all made within the prison bakery.
This initiative formed part of the ‘Nav Sankalp’ programme – a rehabilitation and skill-training effort led by the Karnataka Prisons and Correctional Services Department with private sector support.
Karnataka Prisons Director General of Police Alok Kumar described the inclusion of inmate-made products at a high-profile public event as a “significant step” in humanising the prison experience and offering hope to incarcerated individuals for life beyond confinement.
Officials emphasised that the mission was focused on convicted prisoners only, not undertrials, to ensure equitable access to vocational training and future opportunities.
Nav Sankalp: Training, Partnerships and Purpose
The Nav Sankalp programme is a structured correctional rehabilitation initiative designed to equip inmates with skills that can create lawful, sustainable livelihoods after their release.
Under this scheme, 20 convicted inmates underwent intensive bakery training, conducted by professional trainers, to prepare bakery items that could meet public-event quality and hygiene standards.
IT conglomerate HCLTech partnered with the prison department to enhance the quality of the products and support the training efforts marking a public-private collaborative model of correctional reform.
Officials said training included not only basic baking, but also quality control and food safety practices to align products with standard expectations.
DGP Alok Kumar told reporters that the department is exploring avenues to make the products commercially available to the general public, including potential listings on e-commerce platforms such as BigBasket and HCLTech’s My E-Haat marketplace a step seen as vital to sustainability and real world relevance of the training.
He stressed that the programme’s design is to make prison-produced items competitive and quality-oriented, not merely token offerings.
Prisons Under Scrutiny: Reform and Regulation
The bakery initiative comes against a backdrop of recent scrutiny of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. In the latter half of 2025, the facility attracted attention over allegations of security lapses, including incidents where inmates were seen possessing mobile phones and other contraband, prompting administrative review and changes.
In response to these concerns, the Karnataka Prisons Department issued a statewide circular in January 2026 restricting the supply of externally sourced food, clothing and bedding to prisoners, citing security, staffing, overcrowding and health considerations.
The directive, aimed at promoting uniformity and safety, limits privately supplied items to tightly controlled quantities of packaged foods and select fresh produce and dry fruits that undergo security checks.
These parallel initiatives stricter internal regulation and rehabilitative vocational training reflect an effort by the state corrections system to balance security imperatives with long–term reintegration goals.
Why This Matters: A Broader Debate on Rehabilitation
Traditionally, prison systems in India have faced criticism for being overly punitive, focusing on confinement without adequate attention to rehabilitation. The Nav Sankalp bakery initiative suggests a shift toward correctional practices that promote dignity, skill-building and economic inclusion.
Rehabilitation advocates argue that preparing inmates for productive life after release can reduce recidivism, bolster public safety, and contribute to social reintegration, while critics may contend that the state must first address safety, overcrowding and equitability before emphasising vocational opportunity.
The dual focus on training and regulation in Karnataka’s prisons underscores how these elements are part of an evolving correctional discourse.
Officials from the prison department have reiterated that training under Nav Sankalp targets convicted prisoners, aiming to foster meaningful skill acquisition that aligns with market needs, rather than serving as a symbolic gesture alone.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we see initiatives that combine rehabilitation with dignity and practical support as steps in the right direction for a humane justice system.
Justice should not only be about confinement, but about enabling transformation through education, skill development and opportunities that make law-abiding life achievable after release.
Quality vocational programmes like Nav Sankalp are compelling because they challenge stigma, encourage productivity, and promote community safety through reintegration.
Yet, meaningful reform must also address structural issues such as overcrowding, adequate staffing, and equitable access to opportunities for all inmates.
