Seventeen children of Seri, Shreekot, Khamale and Gamtha VDC who were rescued from an orphanage in Rupandehi have been handed over to their guardians on October 16. The children, who were living with their parents, were taken to Mayadevi Orphan Children Protection Center in Devdaha VDC-6, Rupandehi through a local agent. The children were rescued by the District Child Welfare Committee Rupandehi and Central Child Welfare Committee. They were handed over in the presence of DCWC Mugu and VDC secretaries.

Samjor Lama, Program Director of Himali Nabin Samaj said that the children were handed over to their guardians after their address was confirmed. Family of the children said that Amar Baniya of Shreekot VDC-1 took the children to Shankar Pyasi, owner of the orphanage from the period May 2015 to April 2015. According to them, Baniya took an amount of 8 thousand to 16 thousand for each of them while taking them to Rupandehi. The orphanage housed 17 children of Mugu aged from 1 to 12 and 13 children from other districts. Himal Samaj said that all children were rescued two months ago as the orphanage was in operation without conforming to standards. They were kept in Kathmandu before being handed over to their guardians.