Nepali bamboo stools made by prison inmates popular in China

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, May 4: Bamboo stools (muda) made at the Syangja Prison, located in Putalibazaar Municipality-1, have become popular in China.

As the stools made by the inmates became popular in the Chinese market, 1,500 bamboo chairs were exported to China.

As the stools made by prisoners are strong and reliable, a businessman has purchased them on demand and exported them to Shanghai, China.

Jailer Dinesh Marasini said that the bamboo stools made by prisoners were generally taken by those who visit the prisons, and for the first time, the country has exported such a large quantity of stools made by the inmates.

Sulav Sharma, the exporter, said that within a month of the demand, he purchased the stools made by the prisoners and exported them to China.

Sharma said that as the inmates failed to meet the demand, an additional 1,500 were purchased from Kaski Prison for export.

Sharma said that he bought it because his sister has a business in China and he was exporting the goods as per the demand received from China.

He said that inmates' handmade stools were sold in small numbers earlier. However, appreciating their craftsmanship, he chose to purchase them in bulk. 

Jailor Dipin Gurung said that the stools were sold at the rate of Rs. 400 per stool.

There are four female and 142 male prisoners here, despite the facility's capacity being limited to 15 women and 50 men, he said.

 There are three times more prisoners than the capacity here, said Gurung.