West Sumatra Ditjenpas Regional Office Turns Prison Image Into Productive Prison Through MSME Development Programs And Food Security

The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Corrections of West Sumatra (Kanwil Ditjenpas West Sumatra) continues to intensify the transformation of the image of correctional institutions from what was previously known to be gloomy to a Productive Prison that actively produces real works through various coaching programs.

The Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of West Sumatra, Marselina Budiningsih, emphasized that this step is part of the implementation of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights acceleration program, which must be carried out by all Correctional Technical Implementation Units (UPT), especially in the West Sumatra region.

"We encourage changes in the image of prisons to productive prisons through skills and personality development programs, with a focus on strengthening and empowering the inmates. As a result, they are able to produce superior MSME products and support local food security," said Marselina in a written statement, Tuesday, May 6.

He added that currently prisons and detention centers in West Sumatra have shown significant progress compared to previous years.

"The evidence is that at the IPPA Fest 2025 event at Lapangan Banteng, Central Jakarta, all products made by inmates from West Sumatra were sold out. Starting from hotel sandals, women's sandals, male skin sandals, fried onions, saljai chips, embroidery headscarves, paintings from used banners, to Salendang Koto Gadang which were purchased directly by the Minister of Law and Human Rights," said Marselina, who is also the former Head of the DKI Jakarta Regional Office.

This success shows that MSME products made by prisoners have found a place in the hearts of the wider community.

Not only in the handicraft and culinary sectors, the West Sumatra Ditjenpas Regional Office has also made the Pasaman Class IIB Open Prison a superior food security project. This prison has succeeded in harvesting 70 tons of sweet potatoes from an area of 7 hectares, with a gradual harvest pattern according to market demand.

"The harvest costs such as tapoka flour and sweet potato chips have started to be marketed to the Pekanbaru area, Riau. In fact, we are planning the Tanah Kacang and Ubi Kayu Harvest activities on May 14, 2025," he added.

As a form of social concern, the Regional Office of the West Sumatra Ditjenpas together with 26 Correctional UPTs have also distributed 2,274 social assistance packages to the families of inmates and underprivileged communities around prisons and detention centers.

Various coaching programs are carried out, including the agriculture, livestock, plantation, to light industries such as the manufacture of hotel sandals. All of this is part of the efforts of the West Sumatra Ditjenpas Regional Office in realizing a productive, inclusive, and real correctional system for the community.