Balangir: An Anganwadi centre in Ghusramunda village under Muribahal block in Balangir district has remained shut for the past five days following a dispute over the appointment of a Scheduled Caste (SC) woman as cook.
According to reports, the centre was allegedly locked after some villagers opposed the appointment of Punya Haripal, stating that their traditional customs do not permit them to consume food prepared by members of the SC community. Following the protest, the functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centre was disrupted.
The issue came to light after a video statement by Haripal, in which she alleged caste-based discrimination, surfaced on social media and went viral. She claimed that despite being appointed through the prescribed government procedure, she was prevented from performing her duties due to her caste identity.
Following the incident, Haripal and the Anganwadi worker lodged a complaint with the local police, alleging that villagers had illegally locked the centre and obstructed government services meant for children and beneficiaries.
Police said a team visited the village after receiving the complaint and held discussions with villagers to ascertain the facts. However, officials said the villagers were not willing to cooperate or accept the appointment.
“We visited the village after the complaint and tried to hold discussions with the villagers. However, they were unwilling to cooperate or understand the situation. The matter has been referred to the district administration for resolution through dialogue before any legal action is taken,” said Bulu Munda, IIC of Muribahal police station.
Following the complaint, the Muribahal Tehsildar, along with the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) and police officials, visited Ghusramunda village and held discussions with community members in an attempt to resolve the deadlock.
However, villagers reportedly remained firm on their demand that the cook be replaced with someone acceptable to the local tribal community. The administration has scheduled another round of talks with village representatives in an effort to resolve the matter amicably.
“We are trying to resolve the issue through dialogue with representatives of both sides. We are hopeful of finding a solution soon,” said Muribahal Tehsildar Jagdish Kartami.
The closure of the Anganwadi centre has affected the delivery of supplementary nutrition and pre-school education services under the ICDS scheme for enrolled children in the village.
