Beekeeping programme launched at Cherlapalli Prisoners’ Agricultural Colony

Telangana Additional DGP (Law and Order) Mahesh M. Bhagwat, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) Sunita M. Bhagwat, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra and President of the Telangana Bee Hub Society Indira Reddy at the launch of beekeeping programme at the Prisoners’ Agricultural Colony in Cherlapalli.

The Telangana Prisons and Correctional Services has launched a beekeeping programme at the Prisoners’ Agricultural Colony (PAC) in Cherlapalli, marking a fresh approach to inmate rehabilitation and environmental conservation.

This is the first time that beekeeping has been introduced within the Telangana prison system. The PAC facility, already home to a variety of flowering plants, provides a conducive environment for honeybee farming.

The initiative aims to equip inmates with practical skills in apiculture, offering them a sustainable means of livelihood upon release. The programme includes hands-on instruction in hive maintenance, colony management, honey extraction, wax processing, and packaging and marketing.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration) Sunita M. Bhagwat noted that 75% of global food crops rely on pollination, underscoring the broader environmental impact of the training. “Without honeybees, our biodiversity, food production, and ultimately human existence would be at serious risk. Through beekeeping, inmates are being trained in a useful livelihood skill,” she said.

Emphasising the critical role of honeybees in pollination and agriculture, Telangana Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Mahesh M. Bhagwat highlighted the importance of apiculture in maintaining biodiversity and food security. “

Speaking at the event, Soumya Mishra, Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services, said the programme aims at instilling essential life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and responsibility among the inmates. One participant from Mahabubnagar shared that while he once feared bees, the programme has helped him overcome that fear and envision a more secure future.

Indira Reddy, president of the Telangana Bee Hub Society, conducted a session on the role of bees in agriculture and the therapeutic benefits of bee products. She pledged continued support for technical training and noted the potential of bee venom in medical treatments, including cancer care.

Support for the programme has also come from the Horticulture Department. B. Babu, Joint Director of Horticulture, spoke about government subsidy schemes available for inmates interested in pursuing apiculture after their release from prison, with some eligible for 100% financial support.

Published - May 26, 2025 08:54 am IST