After 3-Month Boycott, Children Return To Odisha Anganwadi, Eat Food Cooked By Dalit Helper

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 20:50 IST

The anganwadi centre remained shut since November 21 last year, following the appointment of Sharmistha Sethy, a Dalit woman.

A three-month caste dispute at an anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village of Odisha’s Kendrapara district ended on Monday, as children returned to the centre and ate food cooked by a Dalit helper.

Out of 20 enrolled children, 16 attended the anganwadi with their parents and ate the meal prepared by Sharmistha Sethy, whose appointment had earlier sparked protests from some upper caste families. The remaining four children were absent due to illness, officials said.

The centre had remained shut since November 21 after Sethy was appointed as a helper. Some families had refused to send their children or accept the nutritious food supplied for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

The issue drew national attention and was raised in Parliament. Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, had expressed concern over caste discrimination at the workplace.

On Monday, Kendrapara Child Development Project Officer Dipali Mishra and Dhruba Charan Sahoo were present to welcome the children back.

Sethy said she served ragi ladoos and later cooked rice and dalma, a vegetable curry. “Seeing them eat the meals made me overjoyed. They also played with toys, bringing back life to the centre, which was left deserted for around three months," she said. She added that she hopes caste discrimination will not return to the village.

CDPO Mishra said the centre had functioned without children during the dispute. “Now, the vibrancy is back. We hope the absentee children will come to the centre on Tuesday as the dispute has been resolved," she said.

Rajnagar MLA Sahoo said the matter is now resolved and expressed hope that harmony will continue among villagers.

Kendrapara MP and BJP national vice president Baijayant Panda shared photographs on X, saying he was delighted to see children having a nutritious meal at the Nuagaon anganwadi.

“It was heartening to see the community coming together to ensure great beginnings for their children," he wrote.

Members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights also welcomed the development and said awareness drives would be held to protect children’s rights.

(With inputs from PTI)

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