Before the revision came about, unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled convict labourers were paid Rs 6, Rs 7 and Rs 8 respectively; the interim wages introduced from this month upgrades them to Rs 12, Rs 13 and Rs 14 respectively. Some 3,000 prisoners in the State's jails will benefit from the decision.

Sources said the State government has also set up a seven-member Wage Fixation Committee -- headed by the Home Department's additional chief secretary (jails) -- to finalise an equitable wage for prisoners. The panel is supposed to submit its recommendations within six months.

Expectedly, prisoners are happy with the upward revision in wages. Rasik Rameshsinh Rana, who's serving a life term for murder at the Baroda Central Jail, told Express Newsline, ``Prices of things like soaps and bidis have gone up so much, it was difficult for us to manage in the salaries we received previously''.

Babubhai Manubhai Patel, serving a life sentence for murder, said he was very happy with the revision, which put him in the Rs 14/day slot. ``Now I can save some more money to remit back home for my wife and three children'', he said with a smile. ``I spend half of what I earn on myself, while the rest goes into an account, which is handed over to my family members when they come to visit me''.

Another lifer, Vanmani Kumar Vasava, while admitting the hike would allow even economically backward prisoners to ``indulge in luxuries like wafers and biscuits from the prison canteen'', said, however, that the wages were still not at par with those offered for similar work outside the prison walls.

When it was pointed out to BCJ Superintendent Ramnivas Meena that even the prisoners' revised wages were far below the government-declared minimum wages, he said, ``After all, the government also incurs expenses on the prisoner's food, health, clothing and accommodation. If all these heads are considered, the sum will be more than the minimum wages''.

Besides, he said, most of the prisoners were untrained, but were paid a sum during training. ``The idea behind making the prisoners work, after all, is not profit. It's to allow them to learn a trade so that they can stand on their feet once they're released'', he said.

Meena expressed hope that the psychological encouragement brought about by the hike would promote production. The current turnover of the BCJ is Rs 2 crore.