In a pioneering move to address the severe furniture shortage in Delhi’s government schools, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the procurement of 10,000 dual desks manufactured by inmates at Tihar Jail.

The ₹8.95 crore initiative, approved in a recent cabinet meeting, aims to enhance the learning environment while simultaneously providing meaningful employment and skill-building opportunities for prisoners.

The decision follows a comprehensive survey revealing a shortfall of nearly 25,000 desks amid rising student enrolment and expanding classrooms across 1,086 government schools.

The jail-produced desks, matching Public Works Department quality yet 25% more affordable than market options, reflect a cost-effective and socially responsible solution aligned with national recommendations to increase productive work for inmates.

Education Minister Ashish Sood highlighted that this phased approach will begin with the immediate supply of 10,000 desks, backed by a ₹20 crore budget earmarked for upgrading school infrastructure in the upcoming financial year.

The collaboration signals a strategic convergence of education enhancement and prisoner rehabilitation, setting a model for innovative public welfare initiatives.