Doha: The Penal and Correctional Institutions Department at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has established an e-store to market the products made by inmates. This initiative comes within the framework of the MoI’s endeavor to rehabilitate and prepare inmates in correctional and penal institutions, the MoI said.
“Visitors to the e-store can make an order to purchase a specific product easily and conveniently by clicking the “order product now” button after reviewing the product photos and reviewing its specifications, and then filling out the attached electronic form and sending it. Accordingly, the item is booked, a receipt is issued for review and receipt of the product,” said the MoI on its official website.
Products include sculptures, artworks, handcrafted boxes made by male prisoners, clothes, bags, and accessories made by female prisoners. The prices begin from QR60 and may reach thousands. These products are made from the raw materials available locally to achieve high-quality products.
The department has been keen to train inmates and encourage them to innovate. It has established centers to teach painting, carpentry, and workshops for blacksmithing and other crafts. These centers work to develop the inmate’s capabilities and give them professional experiences in cooperation with trainers with high technical expertise and skills and provide a suitable work environment for creativity and innovation.
“Products made by inmates are characterized by high quality and conformity to the standard specifications approved by the state. It is also distinguished by its designs that emulate the eastern culture, its craftsmanship, and its reasonable prices,” the Ministry said.
Regarding establishing the e-store, the Ministry said, “The idea came to enhance the inmate’s self-confidence and stimulate them towards industry and innovation. It is also in response to the desire of visitors to the inmates’ product pavilion at exhibitions held on the sidelines of various events in the country.”
The Ministry pointed out that the electronic store is a sub portal on the MoI website to market products made by inmates of Penal and Correctional Institutions. Payment has to be made in cash on delivery, which is free and will be done directly from The Penal and Correctional Institutions Department or one of its distribution centers.
A prison environment is a place where people with different characteristics and experiences meet. This diverse setting includes people from professions ranging from doctors and engineers to plumbers and electricians and a range of other roles and skills.
The Penal and Correctional Institutions Department at the MoI has started to align the works by inmates with Qatar’s national goals and the market demands. Fifty percent of the proceeds from sales are deposited into the inmate’s account by linking each handcrafted item and craftwork to a specific serial number. In contrast, the other half is deposited in the Ministry’s revenues account to purchase the raw materials.
