In a groundbreaking move towards prison reform and inmate rehabilitation, Nagaland launched its first inmate-operated petrol pump, the M/S Ummeed Prison Welfare Service Station, at Dimapur District Jail on January 28, 2025. The initiative, a collaboration between Nagaland’s Prison Department and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) under its CSR program, allows trained inmates to operate the facility under prison staff supervision. The project aims to promote skill development, self-reliance, and economic empowerment for inmates, providing them with opportunities to reintegrate into society post-incarceration.
Advisor for Prisons, Er. Kropol Vitsu, inaugurated the petrol pump, calling it “a symbol of hope and empowerment.” He praised the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and highlighted the revenue’s role in funding prison welfare programs, including vocational training and education.
Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma, IPS, emphasized the shift towards rehabilitation over punishment, crediting the initiative to collaborative efforts and envisioning its replication at Central Jail, Dimapur. Director General of Prisons Renchamo P. Kikon, IPS, described the project as “a statement of trust and opportunity for inmates.”
