Giving prisoners a sense of life

A filling station maintained by prisoners at Cherlapally is adopted for proper utilisation of man power; it imparts training, helps in the reformation and rehabilitation of the prisoners

PHY Prakaash

“I have a son who is staying in USA, Florida. I was caught due to my bad fate, a small domestic dispute made my wife commit suicide which resulted in the verdict going against me. And I was handed a life-sentence. I am waiting and longing to re-unite with my son. Working at this filling station keeps my thoughts persistent and I hope to be soon released on mercy plea by the government," says 46 year-old Laxman who collects cash at petrol filling station established by Prisoners Agriculture Colony (PAC) at Cherlapally. Another 46-year-old inmate Zakir Hussain who belongs to Nalgonda said that working at the filling station is a temporary reprieve.

A filling station maintained by prisoners at Cherlapally is the first of its kind in the country adopted for proper utilisation of man power; it imparts training, helps in the reformation and rehabilitation of the prisoners. The inmates are paid Rs 70 for every shift. Each shift demands that they work for a period of six hours.

The money they earn is deposited to their respective bank accounts. “Working in petrol pump needs skill, it is not an easy job, ultimately the prisoner will be confident after the completion of their term. Such work will see them leaving the prison carrying a certificate which will fetch them a job” says K Venkateshwar Reddy, Superintendent of Police, PAC.

“The State government is spending Rs 200 crore every year on the AP Prison Department for its maintenance. In order to be sustain our selves, we encourage prisoner powered industries like the petrol pump, thus generating revenue for the government. Under Public Private Partnership, IOCL is paying Rs 26,000 every month to the unit and the revenue is transferred towards the Prisoner Welfare Fund.

There are four other petrol filling stations established by Andhra Pradesh Prisons Department. Prisoner maintained petrol filling stations were first started in Kadapa and further later at Warangal, Rajahmundry, Chenchalguda and followed by PAC Cherlapally." says Ch Ramesh, Deputy Jailor. “Prisoners have umpteen ways of escaping from PAC. They can easily catch a lorry and escape to Mumbai or any other city, but the system has instilled a certain faith in the prisoners” says K Venkateshwar Reddy, Superintendent of Police.

People come from ECIL and surrounding areas for quality petrol. The unit also renders free water service and air pumps, unlike any other petrol pumps in twin cities. The prison management assures that there will be no meter jumping or meter adjustment in serving the fuel. "Most of the customers are from companies located in IDA Cherlapally. Since we do not indulge in any sort of adulteration, people visit us regularly for pure fuel.” says Sai Suresh Babu, in-charge Deputy Jailor.