Kendrapada: An Anganwadi centre at Nuagaon village under Ghadiamala Panchayat in Odisha’s Kendrapada district has remained shut for more than 80 days.
The prolonged closure is allegedly due to caste-based objections by the villagers against the appointment of a woman from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community as a helper at the centre. They have refused to send their children to the centre over the alleged caste-based discrimination, denying them early childhood education and supplementary nutrition.
Pregnant and lactating women, who also rely on Anganwadi centres for support, have been affected by the ongoing boycott.
The Anganwadi helper has expressed deep distress over the situation since her appointment on November 20, 2025. “I secured the post because no one else had applied. Such action of boycotting the centre because of my presence, not only perpetuates caste-based discrimination but also endanger child health and development,” she said.
She said that around 20 children are enrolled at the centre. “This has been a very painful experience for me. I always wanted to teach children and was very happy to have got this opportunity. I have been personally approaching families and urging them to send their kids to the Anganwadi. Four or five families had started collecting ‘chhatua’ and eggs from the centre, but they were threatened by other villagers and have stopped coming since,” she alleged.
Sources further stated that authorities, including the District Social Welfare Officer and Sub-Collector, have made multiple visits to resolve the issue and persuade the community, but without success. Some villagers have openly cited adherence to traditional caste norms as their reason for rejecting the appointment.
“We have informed the district administration and also spoken with the villagers, but they are not willing to cooperate,” CDPO Dipali Mishra told reporters.
Anganwadi centres are institutions dedicated to providing essential care and support to children. It also plays a vital role in early childhood education by offering pre-school programmes that promote cognitive and social development. Food is provided at these centres under Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) along with take home ration (THR) per month for children and nursing mothers.
