Maharashtra CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray launched the jail tourism initiative on January 26, 2021 on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day. This unique initiative will help the citizens, history enthusiasts and school or college students experience the "vignettes from our history".
The initiative was launched from an over 150 year-old Yerawada Central Prison of Pune which saw the imprisonment of various freedom fighters under the British rule including Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lokmanya Tilak and Subhas Chandra Bose.
As of now, the state government has launched the initiative with the Yerawada Prison only. In the subsequent phases, Thane, Ratnagiri, Nashik and Dhule jails will be added to the jail tourism initiative.