Child welfare official quits following allegations

The district secretary in charge of child welfare quit on Tuesday following allegations of mistreating the little children at a childcare centre at Ayyapuram, near here. Secretary K. Vijayakumar resigned from his post in the wake of an inquiry ordered by District Collector Mrunmai Joshy. The District Child Protection Officer, who has been asked to investigate the allegations of mistreatment, has complained to the police against Mr. Vijayakumar. N. Gouri, a former employee at the centre, had complained that Mr. Vijayakumar used to beat the little kids with a scale if they made any noise when he was on the phone.