Now, prisoners in Kerala gear up to run fuel stations

Agencies

September 18, 2019

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 18: After their success in dishing out delicious and cost-effective food items, prisoners in Kerala are now gearing up to manage fuel stations, thanks to an innovative government initiative.

Drawing inspiration from their counterparts in Tamil Nadu and Punjab, the Prison Department is all set to open petrol pumps in the outer campuses of three central jails in the state, envisaged to be run by selected inmates.

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is setting up the pumps in the land, identified by the prison department.

At least 15 convicted prisoners would be identified and given training to run each fuel station on a shift basis and they will be given wages for their work as per jail rules, authorities said.

A top prison official said the plan is to open the fuel stations by November-December this year.

"All necessary government clearances have been received for the initiative. The pumps will come up on the campuses of the central prisons in Poojappura here, Viyyur in Thrissur district and in Kannur," Prison DGP, Rishiraj Singh told PTI.

"The IOC will begin the construction works soon and the work is expected to be completed in the next one month.

We hope that the pumps can be opened by November-December", he said.

Singh said many states like Tamil Nadu already have petrol pumps under the Prisons department.

"They are making handsome revenue by running petrol pumps. Besides generating revenue, the project will also help prisoners engage in constructive activities," he said.

The DGP said the employees who would manage the petrol stations would be handpicked from among the convicted prisoners.

"Not just this project, but inmates are part of all our major initiatives like online food or in the running of prison cafeteria. Those who have knowledge in manning petrol pumps will be given preference. All those selected will be given training," he said.

Based on the nature of the work, the inmates are given wages of up to Rs 160-180a day in the state prisons and those deployed at the fuel stations would also be given remuneration as per the standards, he said.

Seeking to tap the hugely popular online food market, the Kerala Prison Department had recently begun offering biriyani prepared by inmates.

For this, they have tied up with Swiggy, the online food delivery player.

The Freedom Food Factory, an enterprise selling food, mainly chappathi and chicken curry combo, prepared by inmates at Kerala prisons, has been engaged in the business since 2011.

Comments

I think you are a Bhakth. Think about our PM, Home minister, entire ministry.All are criminals and thieves. One of the biggest thief (ambani) running fuel station.

If they are going to start then there will be suffiecient safety measures.

There is jail chapathi and biriyani. Did anybody die after eating foods prpared by prisoners??? There are safety measures

Good. Let some thieves steal petrol, and some other steal spare parts of the vehicles that come to fill fuel.

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'Assassination of Gandhi' cover and attack against communal laws mark Kerala budget

Agencies

February 7,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 7: Kerala government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday has come under the spotlight for depicting the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on the cover of the state finance budget 2020-21 document.

Issuing clarification on the same, Issac justified that it is a political statement.

"Definitely, it is a political statement, the cover of my budget speech. It is a painting by a Malayalam artist of Mahatma Gandhi's murder scene. We are sending out a message that we will not forget who murdered Gandhi."

He also alleged that history is being re-written and National Register of Citizens (NRC) is being used to divide the country on communal lines.

"This is important at the times when history is being re-written. There is an attempt to erase some popular memories and use NRC to divide the population on communal lines. Kerala will stand united."

NRC is an official record of those people who are legal citizens of India. The dossier includes demographic information about all those individuals who qualify as citizens of India as per the Citizenship Act, 1955.

The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and since then it has not been updated until recently.

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Several MLAs at Bengaluru resort were emotionally pressurised to leave Cong: Patwari

News Network

March 13,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 13: Several ministers staying at the Bengaluru resort had been emotionally pressurised to leave the Congress party, said Congress leader Jitu Patwari on Thursday after he was rescued by party leader DK Shivakumar from getting arrested due to the scuffle that had broken out at Embassy Boulevard here.

"We had received information that one of the MLAs, Manoj Chaudhary, staying at the Boulevard wanted his father to bring him back home," Patwari told reporters.

He said, "We had accompanied Manoj's father to the resort but the moment we entered the restaurant at the resort, some miscreants took away Manoj to some other unknown place," Patwari told reporters.

"Meanwhile, we (Lakhan Singh and Jitu Patwari) were manhandled and taken to the police station," he added.

Patwari said that the police had started the process of arresting them but Shivakumar came to their rescue and stopped their arrest.

He further said, "The police manhandled us even though we tried to talk to them in a very calm manner."

"If the MLAs giving resignation was their decision then why is the BJP not allowing them to contact their families," the MP said.

He further said that Jyotiraditya Scindia would soon become a minister but "why are the other ministers being made scapegoats."

Earlier in the day, a Congress leader in Madhya Pradesh had said that if action on the assaulters of its two leaders is not taken then the matter will be taken to the court.

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No doubt, desh drohi criminal rss goons might threaten to kill their beloveds aor they may be kdnapped to go against present ruling party. Public must stand up and oppose such authority and rss police group.

Indians never lose faith on constitution but unite and kick out the person who misusing the costitituion. For expample recent transfer of Delhi High Court Judge by rss backing shah sponsored groups .

Long Live India

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Universities must conduct backlog exams for final semester students: Karnataka Dy CM

News Network

August 4,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 4: With preparations underway for conducting exams for the final semester/ year students in the state, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwathnarayan on Monday directed the respective universities to conduct exams for the backlog papers as well.

"In the wake of COVID-19, it has been decided to hold exams only for the students of final semester/year courses. It has come to our notice that some universities have decided against conducting exams for final year students who have a backlog to clear from previous semesters. This is unpardonable," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

"Our intention is to see that the final year students finish their course. In the present situation, conducting only final semester exams won't help. We have to help the students in clearing their backlogs," added Ashwathnarayan, directing all universities to compulsorily conduct these exams.

Meanwhile, Ashwathnarayan thanked the staff and officials of various government departments who were responsible for successfully conducting the CET exams even amidst the difficult situation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

"In all, 1,94,419 students had registered for the CET exams, of which 1,75,428 wrote the exams. The percentage of students who took up the exams this year was equivalent to that of the previous years, in normal times," the DCM informed.

"After we successfully conducted the exams, Arunachal Pradesh is going to conduct the Public Service Commission exams on the lines of how we successfully conducted the exams. Likewise, even our KPSC has said it will conduct the exams. We must appreciate the good work of the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA), which has set an example for others," Ashwathnarayan said.

The deputy chief minister said that 33 colleges in various districts across the state faced shortage of land and that it is the responsibility of the District Commissioners (DCs) to get the lands sanctioned for all these colleges.
In Bagalkot district alone land has not been sanctioned for six degree colleges, he said.

Reacting to this, Bagalkot DC Captain Rajendra assured to look into the matter as soon as he receives the proposal from department officials.

"Similarly, there is shortage of land for five Diploma colleges and 28 ITI colleges in different parts of the state. The DCs must immediately pay attention to this. Once they get the land, buildings will come up within no time," the Karnataka deputy chief minister said.

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