Prayagraj: Showcasing creativity behind bars, a 42-year-old inmate at Kaushambi district jail is crafting miniature replicas of the Ashoka Emblem using discarded wood.Rahul Vishwakarma, one of around 800 inmates lodged at the jail, has so far helped create 12 wooden replicas of the national emblem over the past two months. Measuring between six inches and two feet, the replicas are carved from waste wood found on the jail premises.Jail superintendent Ajitesh Mishra told TOI that the initiative began about three months ago when Rahul approached him after noticing the Ashoka Emblem in his office. “He claimed he could create a similar replica from wood. Rahul then collected usable parts from old, discarded machines and assembled a small molding device,” Mishra said.Earlier, inmates engaged only in hand-carving wooden items such as children’s toys and prayer beads made from Shyama Tulsi. Seeing their dedication, jail authorities procured a woodcraft machine from the Inmate Welfare Fund under the Skill Development Mission.Following the introduction of the machine, interest in woodcraft grew among other inmates. Mishra said Rahul initially took eight to 10 days to chisel one miniature emblem. He later trained seven other inmates, enabling the group to create replicas of different sizes.“Rahul now works with a team of eight inmates, all of whom have acquired artisan-level skills,” Mishra added.The jail administration plans to present the wooden Ashoka Emblem replicas as ceremonial gifts for placement in offices of the judiciary and government departments.Officials said the initiative aims to instill a sense of patriotism and promote rehabilitation through skill development. The income generated from the sale of these products is being used by inmates to support their legal expenses and provide financial assistance to their families.Stalls selling inmate-made products are regularly set up during Lok Adalats and other govt events. After deducting operational costs, the remaining proceeds are credited directly to inmates, with individual earnings linked to the volume and nature of work.Notably, Rahul was the first inmate to manually craft tulsi malas by drying plant roots, stems and twigs, shaping them into beads and drilling holes before stringing them together—a process that is now largely mechanized with the help of jail-installed equipment.