A petrol pump which will be managed by prisoners of the Vellore Central Prison was inaugurated by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday.
The project is part of a major reformation and rehabilitation measure initiated by the Tamil Nadu Prisons Department. The petrol pump project is expected to give an opportunity to prisoners with good conduct and behaviour to engage themselves in constructive activities to lead a peaceful life post release.
Prison’s periphery
The petrol pump has been constructed along the outer periphery of the district prison and has been ready for more than a month. Commercial operations started once the Chief Minister inaugurated a series of schemes and projects at the Secretariat through video-conferencing.
The fuel retail outlet has been set up in cooperation with the Indian Oil Corporation located at Thorapadi nearby. The construction work was completed in four months and the prison authorities said that this was a project aimed at engaging the prisoners in industrial activity, besides generating revenue for the department.
Apart from a group of prisoners handpicked for running the retail outlet, employees of the prison will also be pressed into service. They are being trained in handling the business.
“Training has been imparted to the prisoners selected for operating the petrol pump. Our staff will also be part of the workforce. Initially, about 15 prisoners with good conduct were allowed to take part in the operations and the numbers may be increased later,” said an official from the prison.
She added that the prisoners, employed for work at the retail outlets, would be paid a monthly salary up to ₹10,000.
Customer friendly
These pumps would be customer-friendly with all the necessary facilities.
A function was held at the petrol pump, in which Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) K. Jeyabharathi, Central Prison Superintendent of Vellore M. Andal, District Revenue Officer J. Parthiban and Indian Oil Corporation general manager Annamalai participated.