Govt allocates Rs 10 cr for survey to find new location for prison

The BJP-ruled Delhi Government has decided to develop a new prison in the national capital owing to three existing overcrowded jails - Tihar, Mandoli and Rohini - of the city.

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The government has allocated a sum of Rs 10 crore for consultation and survey work to find a new place for the prison that would be preferably on the outskirts of the city.

“In order to decongest the existing Tihar Jail complex for the welfare of prisoners, a new scheme for the development of a new jail complex by shifting the existing Tihar Jail complex to some other location has been formulated,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said while presenting the Budget.

Overcrowding in prison is one of the most challenging problems faced by the criminal justice system in India. Overcrowding has adverse effects on the basic needs of prisoners such as healthcare, food and accommodation.

As of February 25, there are a total of 18,992 inmates in three prisons of the Capital, almost double of its capacity, which is 10,026. The figure includes 16,595 under-trial prisoners and 2,302 convicted prisoners.

The government will set up a society for the reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners by developing their overall skills through various skill imparting programmes and will professionalise the functioning of various factories and manufacturing units of the jails.

“The products manufactured in the jail complexes of Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli will be given preference in procurement by offices, ministries and departments working under the Delhi government," the CM said.

The government also allocated a sum of Rs 20 crore for renovation and alteration of Lampur detention centre.