Petrol Pump Managed by Women Prisoners Opens in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: ‘Freedom filling station’, a petrol retail outlet completely managed by female convict prisoners was inaugurated in Chennai by Tamil Nadu Minister for Law, Courts and Prisons, S Reghupathy, on Thursday.

This first-of-its-kind petrol pump is being managed by the convicts of the Special Prison for Women in Puzhal Central Jail.

Around 30 female prisoners are employed at this petrol retail outlet. The female prisoners will receive a monthly salary of Rs 6,000 for their service.

The target is to establish five such petrol retail outlets in the premises of Central Prison in Puzhal, Vellore, Coimbatore, Palayamkottai and Pudukkottai. They will be run by Tamil Nadu Prison Department in association with Indian Oil Corporation Limited.

Plans are also on for the establishment of a “Prison Bazaar” on the campus of all prisons where articles made by the prisoners are sold under the brand name of “Freedom”.