Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala prisons department is all set to open petrol pumps in which prisoners and those who have completed their jail term would work.
The petrol bunks would function at the central jails at Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kannur along with the open jail at Cheemeni in Kasaragod. The construction of the petrol pumps would start next month.
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) would run the petrol pumps that would be open 24 hours. The jail department would give the land needed for setting up the bunks and the staff. This would help jail inmates and those who have completed their prison term to get an income.
The prisons department has got permission from revenue, home, and public works departments for setting up the petrol pumps. The go-ahead has also been given by the pollution control board, police and fire force.
The authorities now only need permission for constructing the building from the respective local administration bodies at each region.
The jail department authorities said that the petrol bunks would start functioning within three months. The Indian Oil Corporation has to give monthly rent for the land to jail and revenue departments.
The jail department would give salary to the petrol bunk staff.
The petrol bunk would function in two shifts. Jail inmates would function in the morning shift and those who have completed the prison term would work in the night shift. Fifteen people would be recruited at every petrol bunk.
The jail authorities would give 25 cents of land at Poojapura, 40 cents in Kannur, 25 cents in Kasaragod's Cheemeni and 30 cents in Thrissur's Viyyur.
