On a foggy morning, small children dressed in bright clothes arrived at an Anganwadi pre-learning center with their parents. They happily received ragiladoos from a Dalit woman. This event marked a positive change in a remote village in Odisha Kendrapara district, which had been caught in a caste conflict for almost three months and had made national news.
Children returns to Odisha Anganwadi after Caste Boycott Ends
The dispute began in Nuagaon village under Ghalimala Gram Panchayat, where residents had boycotted the center for nearly three months. They also refused to accept nutritious food meant for pregnant women, and parents stopped sending their children to the center in protest of Sharmistha Sethy, a Dalit woman, being hired as a helper.
Sharmistha Sethy’s appointment in November last year had prompted upper-caste parents to withdraw their children. Now, she became the center of attention as the Anganwadi returned to full operations with the children’s return.
Why the caste debate occurs?
“I served ragiladoos to the children. Later, I served rice and dalma (vegetable curry). As the children ate, I felt so happy. They also played with toys, bringing life back to the center, which had been empty for about three months. The three hours I spent at the center with the children were the most memorable moments of my life. I am hopeful that the caste conflict will not arise in the village again,” Sharmistha said with joy.
“Children, along with their parents and guardians, had happy moments as they arrived at the Anganwadicenter. For almost three months, the center operated without children because of villagers’ disagreement over Sharmistha Sethy’s role as helper. The center had lost its energy as parents chose not to send their children. Now, the cheerful sounds of playful children have returned,” said Dipali Mishra, Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), responsible for implementing Integrated Child Development Services in the Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district.
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