Bhubaneswar: An anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village of Kendrapada district has recorded near-zero attendance for three months after villagers boycotted the facility over the appointment of a Dalit helper-cum-cook, officials said.
Sarmista Sethi (21), a graduate and the only applicant from the village, was appointed on November 20 with a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000. Following her appointment, most parents stopped sending their children to the centre. Of the 42 enrolled children, only two families are currently collecting rations, and several lactating mothers have also discontinued nutrition services.
Anganwadi worker Lizarani Pandav said repeated attempts to persuade families failed, leading to a formal complaint to authorities. Block and tehsil officials have held meetings with villagers, while the district administration has intervened to resolve the issue. Some parents have reportedly agreed to reconsider, and further action will depend on the sub-collector’s report.
The incident highlights persistent caste-based discrimination challenges in rural welfare delivery systems.
-OdishaAge
