Chennai: Construction work of petrol bunks which will be run by prison inmates are nearing completion and are expected to be inaugurated soon. The petrol bunks will come up in Chennai, Pudhukottai, Coimbatore, Vellore and Palyamkottai. In Chennai, the bunk is being set up within Central Prison campus, Puzhal.
The initiative is taken by the Tamilnadu Prisons department as part of major reformation and rehabilitation measure along with IndianOil Corporation.
A group of prisoners handpicked will be employed to run the retail outlet. They are being trained to handle the business. Apart from this employees of prisons will also be pressed into service.
Sources said the prisoners would receive a monthly salary of Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000. The Prisons department has allotted 50 cent land for the construction of the bunk in its land in the prisons.
Sources said involving inmates in such activities will reduce their stress and also pave the way for some income.
In several prisons, sweets and canteen business are being carried out with the work of the inmates. In Tiruchi prison, farming is done in the vacant spaces and the vegetables are sold in the market.