KENDRAPARA: Exposing the deep-rooted caste prejudice still prevailing in the society, residents of a village in Kendrapara district’s Rajnagar block have allegedly stopped sending their children to the local anganwadi centre after the appointment of a dalit woman as a helper-cum-cook nearly three months ago.
The centre at Nuagaon village under Ghadiamala gram panchayat has reportedly not been functioning since 23-year-old Sarmista Sethi was appointed as an anganwadi helper-cum-cook on November 24 last year.
Soon after her appointment, the village committee allegedly decided to boycott the centre in protest and stopped sending their kids to the centre.
Even pregnant and lactating women have refused to visit the centre since then.
Sethi alleged that she faced resistance from the villagers who said their children would not eat the food prepared by her. The village committee head also reportedly instructed families, including seven dalit households of Nuagaon, not to send their wards to the centre. Around 45 families, including the seven dalit households, reside in the village.
“After my appointment, some upper-caste villagers warned me not to cook for the children. When I refused, they stopped sending their kids. Even women stopped coming to the centre,” she alleged.
Kendrapara collector Raghuram R Iyer said he has directed the district social welfare officer to submit a detailed report on the matter.
“After receiving the report, appropriate action will be taken against those who are illegally preventing children and women from attending the anganwadi centre. We are also trying to resolve the issue amicably through discussions with villagers,” he said.
On Tuesday, a team of dalit leaders visited Nuagaon village and demanded legal action against those preventing children and women from attending the centre. He cited a 2004 Supreme Court interim order which states that SC/ST cooks should be given priority in midday meal schemes.
Ghadiamala sarpanch Sailendra Mishra said repeated appeals to the villagers to resume attendance of their children have gone unheeded. Due to the social boycott by villagers, nearly 60 children have been deprived of the anganwadi services. Mishra confirmed that pregnant and lactating women in the village are also avoiding the centre for the past three months.
Anganwadi worker Lizarani Pandav said she had informed the chief development project officer (CDPO) of Rajnagar block about the matter.
CDPO Dipali Mishra said efforts are underway to resolve the issue. “We have been trying to convince parents to send their children. The tehsildar and I discussed the matter with villagers on Tuesday,” she added.