Thiruvananthapuram, 12 September (H.S):

Mutton and fish curry may soon disappear from Kerala's prison menu as the Prisons Department has recommended replacing the popular dishes with cheaper alternatives, citing rising expenditure, health concerns and procurement difficulties.

In a letter to the Home Department, Director General of Prisons S. Sreejith proposed serving chicken curry, soybean chunks and eggs instead. Prisoners currently receive 140 grams of fish curry with lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays and 100 grams of mutton on Saturdays.

Officials estimate that the proposed revision could save the government about Rs 5.7 crore annually. The department currently spends Rs 5.72 crore a year on mutton and Rs 4.8 crore on fish. Chicken replacing mutton is estimated to cost Rs 1.26 crore, while soybean chunks and eggs in place of fish would cost around Rs 3.4 crore.

Concerns over the health effects of regularly consuming red meat have also influenced the proposal. Authorities pointed out that frequent consumption of meat such as mutton could increase the risk of heart disease.

Mutton has been part of Kerala's prison diet since 1967, when each inmate received 57 grams. The quantity was later increased to 71 grams, and since 2014 prisoners have been served 100 grams of boneless mutton. Fish curry was introduced in 2014 after wheat balls and dried fish were removed during an earlier revision of the menu.

No major changes have been proposed to the remaining meals. Vegetarian prisoners are provided additional vegetable dishes on days when non-vegetarian food is served.

Breakfast options include idli, dosa, chapati and upma, accompanied by green peas curry, chickpea curry, sambar or tea. Lunch generally consists of rice with dishes such as avial, theeyal, thoran, pulissery and curd, while tapioca, rasam and pickle are among the dinner items.

Sick and elderly inmates receive special diets based on medical advice, while special meals are served during major festivals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman