A new bakery initiative has been launched at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison as part of efforts to provide inmates with practical skills and better opportunities for life after release. The Karnataka Prisons Department has introduced Nava Sankalpa Bakery along with a Bakery on Wheels service.
Prisons Department Director General of Police Alok Kumar formally launched both initiatives at the prison. The programme is focused on rehabilitation and skill development, with trained inmates involved in preparing bakery products.
The Bakery on Wheels concept is expected to take these products beyond the prison premises. The department plans to operate the mobile bakery service at selected public locations in Bengaluru, including court premises and bus stations.
The initiative has been designed with a broader purpose than simply selling food. Officials want the activity to provide inmates with work experience and a practical skill that can potentially help them find a source of income after completing their sentences.
Training has already been provided to newly sentenced inmates involved in bakery production. Certificates were also distributed to inmates who completed the training programme, recognising their participation in the skill development initiative.
The focus on vocational training is part of the prison department’s rehabilitation efforts. Learning a trade while serving a sentence can give inmates an opportunity to develop practical experience that may be useful when they return to society.
The planned mobile sales service could also create a direct connection between the products prepared inside the prison and customers outside. Rather than limiting the bakery operation to the prison premises, Bakery on Wheels is intended to bring the products to places with regular public movement.
Court complexes and bus stations have been identified as possible locations for sales. The department expects the initiative to generate additional revenue while also giving trained inmates experience in production and sales related activities.
The programme also builds on earlier instances in which food prepared by inmates was presented at public events. During the Republic Day celebrations in Bengaluru in 2026, snacks and food prepared by inmates were served to dignitaries at the main event held at Manekshaw Parade Ground.
Such initiatives have helped draw attention to the skills and work being carried out inside correctional facilities. The bakery project takes that idea further by creating a more organised production and sales activity.
Alok Kumar also acknowledged the support received for establishing the new bakery unit and the Bakery on Wheels service. In a social media post, he thanked HCL eHaat for its assistance and congratulated IPS officer Anush Kumar and the team at Bengaluru Central Prison.
The new bakery is expected to function as a training environment where inmates can learn different aspects of food preparation and bakery production. Regular participation can also help them become familiar with workplace routines and responsibilities.
For the prison administration, generating income is another important part of the project. Revenue from the sale of bakery products could help strengthen the initiative and support its continued operation.
The programme also reflects a shift towards rehabilitation focused prison activities. Along with maintaining security and discipline, correctional institutions increasingly use education, vocational training and work programmes to help inmates prepare for their eventual return to society.
The success of Nava Sankalpa Bakery will depend on product quality, customer response and the ability to maintain a steady production and sales system. The proposed mobile outlets could play an important role by giving the products greater visibility across Bengaluru.
For inmates who complete the bakery training, the experience could provide more than a certificate. Practical knowledge of food preparation and bakery work may give them another possible livelihood option after release, depending on their individual circumstances and opportunities.
With Nava Sankalpa Bakery and Bakery on Wheels now launched, the Karnataka Prisons Department is expanding its rehabilitation and skill development activities at Parappana Agrahara. The initiative is intended to combine training, production and income generation while supporting inmates as they prepare for life beyond prison.
