Kendrapara: Two days after the issue of caste discrimination linked to the appointment of a Dalit anganwadi helper in Kendrapara district echoed in Parliament, the local administration on Saturday announced that the dispute has been amicably resolved following extensive negotiations.
The controversy had erupted in Nuagaon village under Ghalimala gram panchayat, where residents had boycotted the anganwadi centre since November 21, protesting the appointment of Sharmistha Sethy as helper-cum-cook. Sethy, a Dalit woman, was appointed in November 2025 after no other applications were received for the post.
For nearly three months, villagers refrained from sending their children to the centre and also declined to accept nutritious food supplies meant for pregnant women.
Kendrapara Sub-Collector Arun Nayak said final discussions were held with villagers in the presence of stakeholders, including members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Odisha State Commission for Women. Officials counselled residents on constitutional values and the abolition of caste-based discrimination.
“Following the talks, parents have agreed to send their children to the anganwadi centre from Monday. The matter has been resolved through dialogue,” Nayak said.
The issue gained national attention on February 12 when Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised concerns during Zero Hour in the Upper House. He cited the Odisha incident as an example of caste discrimination persisting in workplaces, stating that some villagers had refused to allow their children to consume food prepared by a Dalit anganwadi worker.
Nuagaon, with a population of around 450, has since expressed its willingness to restore normalcy.
With the impasse resolved, district officials hope the episode will serve as a reminder of the importance of social inclusion and equal opportunity at the grassroots level.
