New Delhi: Top-rung Indian corporates are
lining at the gates of Tihar Prison to make their Holi
colourful.
From IT giants to top-notch five-star hotels, 24
companies have gone to Asia`s largest jail to procure `gulal`
and other such colours produced by convicts in a quality-
controlled environment.
"Companies like Wipro Infotech, Maruti Suzuki Company
Ltd, Birla Soft, LG Life Sciences, Tech-Mahindra, Ranbaxy,
Royal Bank of Scotland, Naukri.com and five-star hotels like
Taj Palace Hotel, ITC Maurya Sheraton, Hyatt Regency and
Shangrila Hotel in Janpath have procured more than 500 pieces
of cans containing herbal Holi colours," a senior official of
Tihar Prisons said on Monday.
Made from maize starch, these edible-grade `gulals` are
available in seven radiant colours and stress-busting seven
herbal aromas, he said. Colour red is available in `fresh
rose` aroma, orange in `kesar-haldi`, pink in `lilly of
valley`, green in `lemon grass`, sky blue in `fresh mint`,
yellow in `lal chandan` and magenta in `lavender`.
"All the colours are made through complete hand-made
process. The only machine used is the digital weighing scale.
They do not contain any heavy metals and are beneficial for
the skin," said Swami Vishalanand, an activist with Divya
Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, the biggest NGO in Tihar jail complex
engaged in rehabilitation and reforms programmes.
"These colours have been made by convicts lodged in jail
number 5. A total of over 80 convicted inmates got trained by
our NGO to make them. Six prisoners who were released recently
and who were earlier engaged in making of these colours, are
today earning their living by selling these colours. Complete
hygiene is maintained amongst inmates while making the
colours," he said.
PTI
