667 child labourers rescued in Punjab

Chandigarh, June 30: The Punjab government today said over 667 child labourers were rescued last week by labour department during raids at several centres across the state.

The raids were conducted at 6,166 centres between June 12 and June 18 during the Child Labour Eradication Week observed in the state, state labour minister Arunesh Shakir said.

A fine of Rs 20,000 each was also slapped on 608 offenders, he said.

Of the rescued children, maximum 175 were rescued from Ludhiana, the minister said.

——PTI—