Odisha Anganwadi Centre Remains Empty for Three Months Following Dalit Cook Appointment
An anganwadi centre in Odisha's Kendrapada district has recorded virtually no attendance over the past three months, with villagers refusing to send their children in protest against the appointment of a Dalit woman as helper-cum-cook.
Controversial Appointment Sparks Community Boycott
The anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village appointed 21-year-old Sarmista Sethi on November 20, 2025, prompting immediate backlash from local residents. Villagers have either kept their children away from the centre or, in a few cases, simply collected the rations to take home without allowing their children to attend.
Sarmista Sethi, a graduate and the oldest of three siblings, was the only applicant from her village for the position. Despite the modest monthly salary of Rs 5,000, she was pleased to secure the employment opportunity. The young woman has chosen not to speak publicly about the ongoing controversy surrounding her appointment.
Impact on Child Nutrition and Community Services
Another anganwadi worker at the centre, Lizarani Pandav, confirmed that many villagers were upset about Sarmista's appointment. The centre typically serves 22 children aged between six months and 3 years, plus 20 children between 3 and 6 years old. It provides essential nutrition including sattu and eggs to support early childhood development.
"The older children are not coming, and only two parents are taking rations home. Even a lactating mother has stopped taking rations," Lizarani reported, highlighting the widespread nature of the boycott.
Typically, older children attend the anganwadi centre directly, while parents of younger children collect food on their behalf. The centre also provides nutritional support for lactating mothers, making its services crucial for maternal and child health in the community.
Failed Reconciliation Efforts and Official Intervention
Lizarani and Sarmista attempted to convince parents to send their children back to the centre, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. "I eventually gave a written complaint to the higher authorities," Lizarani stated, escalating the matter to district officials.
Officials from the block and tehsil levels have conducted multiple meetings with villagers in an attempt to resolve the situation. According to Kendrapada Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Deepali Mishra, district administration officers visited the village to assess the situation firsthand.
"Some parents have agreed to send their children, while others have asked for three days to decide. We are hopeful that the problem will be resolved soon," Mishra explained, indicating some progress in negotiations.
Administrative Response and Future Actions
Kendrapada Collector Raghuram Iyer confirmed that the sub-collector visited Nuagaon village to evaluate the situation. "Based on the sub-collector's report, we will take further action," Iyer stated, suggesting that administrative measures might be implemented if the boycott continues.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges with caste discrimination in rural Odisha, particularly in contexts involving food preparation and child care services. Anganwadi centres, established under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, play a vital role in providing nutrition, preschool education, and healthcare to children under six years old and their mothers.
This prolonged boycott raises concerns about the nutritional status of young children in Nuagaon village who have missed three months of regular meals and developmental support typically provided through the anganwadi system.
