Govt to construct rehabilitation complex for 700 children
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday that the Government will construct a modern, integrated rehabilitation complex for children in conflict with the law. The facility will be developed on about eight acres of land in Alipur and will have a capacity to house around 700 children.
This initiative will focus on the protection, reform, and reintegration of children into mainstream society, rather than punishment.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Minister with members of the Juvenile Justice Committee. Senior officials from the Department of Women and Child Development were also present. The meeting involved detailed deliberations on the legal, social, and humanitarian issues related to children in conflict with the law and the need for a comprehensive and modern system in Delhi.
The proposed complex will accommodate children whose cases are pending before the Juvenile Justice Board under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, as well as those who have completed legal proceedings.
At present, such children are housed in multiple homes across different parts of Delhi, many of which are several decades old. The Government has now decided to replace this fragmented system with a single, state-of-the-art integrated facility.
According to the Chief Minister, the new complex will provide a safe, structured, and child-friendly environment with comprehensive facilities for education, sports, yoga, mental health counselling, behavioural correction, and skill development. These provisions are aimed at building self-confidence and equipping children with the skills required to lead a normal life after rehabilitation.
“The Delhi Government believes that children in conflict with the law are not criminals but individuals who need protection, guidance, and an opportunity to reform,” the Chief Minister said. She emphasised that the integrated complex will not function as a punitive institution. Instead, it will be designed as a secure protection and reform system that ensures dignity, care, and opportunities for personal growth.
Children housed at the facility will follow age- and need-appropriate daily routines and will be encouraged to participate in creative, educational, and physical activities.
The Delhi Government believes that children in conflict with the law are not criminals but individuals who need protection, guidance, and an opportunity to reform
— Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister
