92 minor children rescued

Puri, Apr 10 (UNI) As many as 92 minor children were rescued from their employer during a special drive launched by the district labour department officials recently.

The department also initiated 21 criminal cases in the SDJM court against the employers in the first phase while 20 more cases were under process, official sources here said.

Rs 1.16 lakh as compensatory was collected from eight employers while another Rs 4 lakh was expected from nine owners, the officials said.

Of the 92 children rescued, 30 were rehabilitated in various government sponsored programmes.

District Collector R R Patnaik, meanwhile, has directed all the block development officers and Tahasildars to conduct inspections in their respective areas and rescue minor children employed by various persons.

He has directed the concerned officials to initiate legal proceedings against the violators.

UNI XC-DP KK RL RN2044