Patna, March 4: The industries in the jails of Bihar are performing well despite the state lagging in terms of industrial development.

A report of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi, stated the income generated by the industrial units of Bihar jails was second in the country.

Maharashtra tops the list with a revenue generation of Rs 14.11 crore while the income generated by Bihar jails stand at Rs 10.87 crore.

The latest report of the bureau has been released on the basis of the figures for the year 2008-09.

A senior home (prisons) department official said the income generated by jails in the state had witnessed a growth in the past few years. This had been possible because of the efficient use of available resources, he added.

Motivating inmates to take up work for their future was another reason behind the growth in the revenue.

The income of Bihar jails stood at Rs 8.9 crore in 2004-05. It went up to Rs 10.32 crore a year later. In 2007-08, the figure stood at Rs 10.97 crore, said the official.

The official said the day was not far when Bihar jails would attain the numero uno position.

He said a printing press had been set up at Special Central Jail, Bhagalpur, and the bakery unit at Beur Central Jail, Patna, too, had started functioning.

The income from these two units would certainly help in increasing the income from Bihar jails.

The official also said steps were being taken to modernise the existing industries in different jails of the state so that their income level could be further enhanced.

Some of the jails that have industries for producing different items and are major contributors to income are the central jails at Buxar, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Patna and Muzaffarpur.

The Buxar Central Jail is the most prominent among them. The jail, in fact, contributes about 90 per cent of the total income of Bihar jails. Material used in Swiss cottage, tarpaulin and ropes used for capital punishment are produced at this jail, said the official.

The Muzaffarpur central jail is famous for its leather products.

Some of the major items produced in other jails of the state are clothes, blankets, soaps, phenyl and carpets.