IIM-A to give marketing lessons to Gujarat prisons

Inmates of two prisons in Gujarat will now get lessons from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad to improve marketing of their factory products and for honing their inter-personal skills.

Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad and Central jail in Baroda have contacted IIM-Ahmedabad to help them in issues related to sale, distribution and management of factory products and also help inmates acquire more skills which they may be able to best utilise outside when they are released from prison, Dheeraj Sharma, associate professor of marketing and international business, IIM-Ahmedabad, said.

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"We will suggest them ways to improve branding and marketing of the factory products made by the inmates.

"Along with this, we will try and find where are the lapses in the process and operations and where different non-government oranisations can come in and offer some workshops and training to the inmates," Sharma said.

Meanwhile a team from IIM-Ahmedabad is also studying the products of Tihar Jail in order to suggest ways to improve marketing.

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He said, "Unlike Tihar, the two jails here do not have a strong brand till now. They are into production of many products in carpentry unit, bakery unit and others."

Sharma said, "Brand development is a common goal for the inmates and that allows them to be motivated to make further contribution to the society.

"We will find out where different NGOs and organisations can come in and offer some workshops and training to the inmates."