Prisoners in Kerala will now get an extra opportunity to earn some money as the state govt has allowed the prisoners to work as employees in petrol pumps and take home a salary. The Kerala government has rolled out Petrol Pumps from jail premises in association with Indian Oil Corporation.
Employing Prisoners
In petrol pumps, 15 jail inmates will be employed at each pump. The outlets of Thiruvananthapuram, Viyyur and Cheemeni jails have already started to function. Many express doubt whether the prisoners will try to escape. But previous experience working with them proves otherwise. They are managing five cafeterias in the state and selling food prepared by them. They are paid ₹220 per day for their work and the jail inmates are running it successfully particularly at COVID-19 times.
The initiative to employ jail inmates in petrol pumps was taken as in Kerala there are many projects of which prisoners are a part of and are being employed. The Indian Oil Corporation is investing around ₹9.5 crore to set up four petrol pumps at the jail premises. The share of the jail department is ₹30 lakh for setting up petroleum outlets. Other than the three presently, it will also be started in Kannur jail.
The land has been leased to the Indian Oil Corporation for 30 years. The prisoners are employed here and for that, they underwent training in the petrol pump of IOC and the uniform will also be supplied by them. Through this, the government will get ₹5.9 lakh per month in rent. It also plans to expand the project in the future by setting up a CNG and electrical charging station. The petrol pumps will be also accompanied by public comfort stations.
