Punjab: Inmates to run fuel station on Jail-lands; Pilot project to be run in Patiala

PATIALA: The good character jail inmates will now run the fuel stations that will be operated on the land of jails and for this, the Punjab jail department has tied up with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) giving new vistas to the inmates.
As a pilot project, Punjab's first fuel station on the land of jail was being opened at Patiala's Punjab Jail Training School that will be run by inmates having good character. Besides this Verka and Markfed products will be available for the general public at these fuel-stations and the income generated from it will go to the welfare of inmates. After a successful run at Patiala, similar fuel stations will be opened across the state.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed on Monday by Punjab jail minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa with IOC at Punjab Jail Training School Patiala in the presence of ADGP jails Rohit Chaudhary.
It is learned that the state government had identified the sites at Patiala, Sangrur, Faridkot and Gurdaspur districts while after the success of the pilot project the sites across the state would be located on the land of jails and cooperative societies.
The jail minister revealed that MoU was also signed with Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law for running diploma courses in jail reforms. He also flagged off five new vehicles meant for the jails.
“The Punjab government has heralded a revolution in jail reforms and this has been done to make jails a place of reform and rehabilitation of it's inmates. The central government should give jail reforms funds on lines of police reforms funds given to states. To strengthen jails department, 420 more appointments are being made and jail staff is also being promoted.
He said that except for Kartarpur Corridor, the centre has not given any funds to Punjab for celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
He condemned the demands of politicians to open opium vends in the state and also claimed that drug supply line in the state was badly damaged by the state government.
During passing out parade of the Jail Training School Randhawa gave certificates to 246 wardens and matrons on completion of their courses of the five-month time period. He said that the jail officials carried major responsibility of reforming criminals arrested and jailed know various cases and the same was being done diligently under ADGP jails Rohit Chaudhary.
The minister also announced Rs 5 lacs grant for Halloween from his quota and said that AC will be installed in the school's auditorium. Also, the contingents of matrons and jail wardens will participate in Republic Day and Independence Day parades. He said that due to the alertness of jail staff, drugs could be recovered from various jails.