Reforming Juvenile Delinquents

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 being administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development is the primary legislation for rehabilitation and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances, including children in conflict with law. The JJ Act and the Central Model Rules there under, provide for various measures, including counselling, for ensuring the well being and rehabilitation of such children.

To ensure the proper implementation of the JJ Act and to improve the quality of services for children under the Act, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has introduced the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) which provides financial and technical assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations to put in place a range of measures for rehabilitation of such children, including, inter-alia, institutional and non-institutional care, education, vocational training, health services etc. One of the important interventions for such children under the Scheme is counselling for which the Scheme provides for full time counsellor in every institution as well as in the District Child Protection Units under the Scheme.

Further, under ICPS, financial assistance is also provided to State Governments/UT Administrations inter-alia for after care services for children leaving the Homes to help sustain them during the transition from institutional to independent life. The services include housing facilities, vocational training, help to gain employment, counselling and stipend etc.