Dalit cook of anganwadi alleges discrimination

Rourkela: An anganwadi centre at Dewanpali village in Bargarh district’s Jharbandh block was reopened on Thursday, a day after some villagers locked it over the appointment of a dalit woman cook (pachika).

The cook, Padmini Jagat, complained on Wednesday that some villagers are campaigning against accepting her cooked food, eggs and chaatua as she is a dalit.“After discussing with the villagers, the issue has been sorted out today and the anganwadi centre has been opened,” said Sushma Patel, CDPO, Jharbandh block. Among those present were IIC, Jharband police station, Sanjay Parida; tehsildar, Jharbandh, Alekha Ghuta; and welfare extension officer, Jharbandh, Sunil Bhoi.Padmini has been working at the anganwadi centre since two months. She alleged that parents were asked not to send their children to the anganwadi centre and she was also pressurised to resign from the post of cook. Her father, Abadhuta Jagat, alleged that he was pressurised to tell his daughter to quit.