Kendrapara anganwadi boycott ends as villagers agree to send children after dalit cook’s appointment
This was a marked change from a similar meeting on Wednesday that saw only two attendees despite persuasion by the district administration. KENDRAPARA: Following the intervention of the Odisha State Commission for Women and the district administration, residents of Nuagaon village under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara on Saturday agreed to send their children to the Anganwadi centre from Monday. The villagers had boycotted the anganwadi since November after the appointment of a dalit cook. The meeting, held at the centre on Saturday, saw participation of over 150 villagers. This was a marked change from a similar meeting on Wednesday that saw only two attendees despite persuasion by the district administration. The meeting was attended by additional district magistrate Nabakrushna Jena, sub-collector Arun Nayak, member of state women’s commission Kalpana Mallick, along with police officers and activists. Further, a community feast was held after the meeting, where the dalit anganwadi cook Sarmista Sethi (23), served food to villagers as a gesture of reconciliation. Officials also conducted door-to-door outreach, after which villagers expressed willingness to resume Anganwadi services. The villagers taking oath to send their children to the centre from Monday. The villagers taking oath to send their children to the centre from Monday.(Photo | Express) The administration engaged local artists to stage street plays in the village to spread awareness against caste-based discrimination. Pala singers were also involved in spreading awareness on the day. Nayak said these efforts helped villagers understand the social risks of boycotting the worker. Mallick said that after a series of talks, the matter has been amicably settled. “The Anganwadi centre will function normally as parents have consented to send their children,” said Sujata Nayak, member of the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Notably, the authorities had appointed Sethi as a cook-cum-helper at Nuagaon in November, following which the village committee decided to boycott the centre in protest against the appointment of a dalit cook. Around 45 families, including seven dalit families, live in the riverside village. According to Ghadiamala sarpanch Sailendra Mishra said that not only children, but even pregnant women had also stopped visiting the centre, missing out on nutrition, health check-ups, iron-folic acid supplements, immunisation and health education. Ashis Senapati Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Tamil Nadu: 360 Dalit families forced to live in darkness for 40 years, now announce election boycott due to lack of amenities
The plight of Tirthakadu village in Madurai: Three generations are suffering in the struggle for land leases, even in the minister’s constituency, far from development, now the slogan is “No facilities, no vote.” Madurai: For approximately 360 Dalit families living in Tirthakadu village, located near Vandiyur within the Madurai city limits, the past four decades have been spent in the midst of government file-sharing and darkness. The ongoing tussle between the Municipal Corporation and the State Revenue Department over the issuance of land leases has directly impacted the lives of ordinary people. As a result, for more than 40 years, residents have been forced to live without basic amenities like electricity, drinking water, paved roads, drainage, and sanitation. Administrative Neglect and Public Suffering Surprisingly, this area falls under Ward 38 of the Madurai City Corporation and is part of the Madurai East Assembly constituency, represented by Commercial Tax Minister P. Murthy. Despite this, the suffering of the 1,200 residents living here remains untold, unheard, and ignored by the authorities. The New Indian Express reported that, according to local residents, several poor Dalit families settled on barren plots of land on the outskirts of the city years ago. They were promised leases for nine acres and 13 cents of land by various governments. However, in reality, only 68 families were issued e-pattas by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin in December last year. This delay in issuing the leases has stalled development work, as the Revenue Department is stuck in the process of transferring the common land area to the city corporation for the development of amenities. “Enough is enough”: Election boycott decision Determined to no longer tolerate government apathy, the Tirthakadu SC Residents Protection Welfare Association has taken the firm decision to boycott the upcoming elections. Posters with slogans like “Enough is enough” have been pasted in and around the village, clearly stating that they will not vote in any election until basic amenities are provided. Expressing their anger, Muthamil Pandian, president of the association, said, “We have decided to boycott the assembly elections to protest this neglect that has continued for 40 years. We also plan to take out a rally to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai in the next few days.” Expensive water and the fear of darknessMullikodi, 35, a resident of the village, said that more than 350 Scheduled Caste (SC) families have been living here since 1983. Expressing their anguish, they said, “We have built houses, but the corporation has refused to provide basic amenities. Due to the lack of water pipelines, we have to pay Rs. 80 for a 100-liter barrel of non-potable borewell water and Rs. 15 for a pitcher of drinking water.” The lack of electricity also poses a serious security threat in the village. Mullikodi alleged that anti-social elements take advantage of the darkness to carry out illegal activities. He said, “We are daily wage laborers and cannot rent a house elsewhere. Due to the darkness in the neighborhood, we cannot go to work before sunrise and return home after sunset. There is also the danger of poisonous insects and snakes at night.” Furthermore, due to the lack of toilets, women and girls face harassment while defecating in the open. The darkness of education: Free laptops given to students go to waste The lack of electricity has also put a shadow on the future of children. Another woman from the village, 30-year-old Renuka, said, “Due to lack of proper lighting, students are forced to study by candlelight. We cannot use any electronic devices, and even the free laptops given to students by the government are lying idle or have been sold because they cannot charge.” The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that not a single child from this village has graduated in the last 40 years. Renuka explained that they have to spend money even for basic needs. People go to nearby areas where there is electricity to charge their phones, paying Rs. 5 per device. Officials’ View On this serious issue, a senior revenue official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We are looking into the matter and taking steps to meet the villagers’ demands, including electricity and water connections.” Meanwhile, when District Collector K.J. When Praveen Kumar was contacted, he said he would speak to the Municipal Commissioner regarding the matter. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Right-wing group forces Dalit woman to‘postpone’ her interfaith wedding in UP
Bareilly: An interfaith couple’s planned wedding in Meerut was “postponed” following threats and protests by members of a right-wing group. An FIR was also registered against the groom under the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act following allegations of “love jihad”. TOI had reported about the FIR earlier this week. The couple — Akanksha Gautam, who follows Buddhism and works in the private sector, and Shahvez Rana, a medical professional — was scheduled to marry on Friday. Both belong to Meerut city. Following news of their wedding a few days ago, members of Hindu Suraksha Sangathan protested and, accompanied by Akanksha’s uncle, Premchand Gautam, filed a complaint at the city’s Ganga Nagar thana. Speaking to TOI on Friday, Akanksha said, “My wedding is a non issue. This (right-wing) group wants to make it a national headline. I want to ask who are these men to take a decision on my behalf, and how can they thrust their decision on me? My life has turned into a complete chaos, but the man I chose to marry still stands by me. I gave my statement to the court, and I want to marry him. Our marriage has been postponed, not cancelled.” The 29-year-old added: “My father passed away in 2023, after which my uncle, who filed this complaint against Rana, wants to grab our property. We have a house and other properties in my mother’s name, which he wants to be registered in his name… When my mother and sister are happy for me, why is he (uncle) creating a problem?” The woman’s mother, Lata Rani, meanwhile, said, “We’re Buddhists and not Hindu. This is open bullying… Whatever we’re doing is within the framework of the Indian Constitution. I fully stand by my daughter and Shahvez. They will get married, come what may.” In his complaint, Akanksha’s uncle alleged deception. “Shahvez Rana deceived her with the intention of grabbing property. He conspired after manipulating and brainwashing her,” he stated. Meanwhile, the right-wing members failed to go ahead with their ‘maha panchayat’ at the wedding venue in Meerut on Friday after police locked up the place and prevented them from reaching the venue. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Villagers allegedly stop sending children to Kendrapara Anganwadi after Dalit cook’s appointment
Families in Nuagaon village, Kendrapara district, Odisha, have reportedly ceased sending their children to a local Anganwadi following the appointment of Sarmistha Sethi, a Scheduled Caste cook, in November last year. Sarmistha Sethi stated she began working at the Anganwadi on November 20, but children have not attended since because of her caste. “I joined on 20 November last year. Students are not coming here because I belong to the Scheduled Caste. It has been three months like this. Something like this should not happen in the education sector. I am a cook here. The sub-collector officer and tehsildar also know about this issue,” she said. Sub-Collector of Kendrapara, Arun Kumar Nayak, said he visited the Anganwadi and discovered villagers refusing to accept the cooked food, although no formal complaint regarding caste discrimination has been filed. He assured that the matter will be resolved promptly and that action will be taken if civil rights violations occur. “I went there yesterday and inquired with a few villagers and the candidate herself. Although it was not clear from anyone, we have not received any complaint regarding any kind of caste issue. I came to know that villagers are not taking any cooked food from that Anganwadi centre. We will sort out the issue very soon. Tomorrow we will do a massive campaign. If it is a case of violation of civil rights, then we will act accordingly,” he stated. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised concerns on February 14 about alleged caste discrimination at workplaces. Referring to the incident in Odisha during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he highlighted that some families refused to allow their children to eat food prepared by a Dalit Anganwadi worker. Kharge remarked that such discrimination undermines social reform and unity in the 21st century, noting that the Anganwadi centre had been boycotted for three months. He emphasised that Anganwadis are fundamental to children’s physical and cognitive development, asserting that these discriminatory practices affect their growth and infringe upon the right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution. Courtesy : TNM Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewsmill.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
A Meerut wedding that got too risky. Dalit bride, Muslim groom, parents, venue ready
The FIR against the Muslim groom has left two families, who barely a week ago were in a celebratory mood, worrying for their safety. The engagement hall that was booked by the Meerut families. Akanksha Gautam and Shahvez Rana were supposed to exchange rings last week when an FIR was lodged against the groom alleging forced conversion. | Sabah Gurmat | ThePrint A Meerut interfaith wedding between Akanksha Gautam and Shahvez Rana was cancelled after Akanksha’s uncle, instigated by a Hindutva group, filed a “love jihad” FIR. The couple, who had planned a secular marriage, face emotional and financial distress, and fear for their safety under Uttar Pradesh’s controversial law. *AI-generated summary. Check context in original text. Meerut: Akanksha Gautam should have been receiving congratulatory messages and calls on her phone. The 29-year-old Meerut woman was supposed to marry her former neighbour Shahvez Rana. Now, the wedding is cancelled. And an FIR and the draconian love-jihad law haunt the couple. Akanksha’s phone was ringing non-stop on Wednesday morning. But now, she is battling the system while trying hard to minimise her losses on a wedding that has cost the family a fortune. “I paid Rs 65,000 to book the Saat Phere banquet hall for my sagai. I just want the refund now,” said Akanksha, distraught about what is to follow. In her living room, crammed with cartons of Voltas and LG ACs bought as “gifts” for the groom’s side, Akanksha sank into the sofa and turned her phone off. Her cousin Madhu had arrived from Agra, looking forward to all the dancing and celebrations at the haldi and mehendi ceremonies. “Now it’s less like a shadi ka ghar, more like a maatam ka mahaul.” The Meerut couple is the latest to be at the receiving end of the Uttar Pradesh law that many have called regressive ever since it came into existence in 2020. The case has left two families, who till barely a week ago were in a celebratory mood, worrying for their safety. While police investigate the ‘love jihad’ allegations against the groom, and the family seeks appointments with top cops in the hope of some relief, WhatsApp forwards and fake news circulation hound Shahvez and his kin. And the Hindu group that helped file the FIR has openly declared they will not leave the couple alone. In UP, nobody wants to host an inter-faith wedding. Twenty-five-year-old Shahvez served as a manager at a small privately-run hospital in Meerut. Now, he is “too afraid” to return to his work. “My name, my work, my reputation has all gone. Even Akanksha – and she is alone just with her sister and mother, did anyone think of her? – she is at risk too. This is all happening because of Sachin Sirohi and goons like him who have instigated her uncle. Her chacha has known me for years, did he not know I’m Muslim? Go ask him, ask his whole family. They all know me well! They are just being instigated by these hate mongering goons” said Shahvez over a video call, unable to hold back his tears. Sirohi is a well-known vigilante in Meerut who enjoys political patronage. He was earlier the Meerut zone’s head of the Hindu Jagran Manch, and has been involved in incidents like this in the past as well. Local journalists said he likes to do whatever it takes to get in the limelight. ThePrint tried reaching out to Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey and SP (rural) Abhijeet Kumar through calls and messages. This report will be updated with their responses as and when they arrive. Investigating Officer Dheeraj Singh said the probe was underway and that the police will proceed accordingly to ascertain whether this is a case of forced conversion or not. “No arrests have been made so far. The complainant’s claim was an offence of a serious nature, and the police are bound to register a case.” Sachin Sirohi (second from left), president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Sangathan with Prem Chand (third from left), Akanksha’s uncle in whose name the FIR was registered against Shahvez the Muslim groom. | Sabah Gurmat | ThePrint A name, a dog whistle, and an FIR Relatives from Agra had arrived at Akanksha’s home for the wedding. As the family now tries to make sense of the developments, they are also keeping an eye on how the case is being reported in the media Rohan, one of Akanksha’s nephews, fished out his phone and played a TV news story about Shahvez’s purported “Love Jihad”, even as he said that Shahvez had been like a friend to him. All her maternal side of relatives knew of him since the time they were friends. Madhu, the cousin and Megha, the younger sister, saw Shahvez as a caring and responsible man. Someone who had “always been there as a friend to our sister”. Akanksha Gautam with her mehndi. | Sabah Gurmat | ThePrint At the centre of this storm is 39-year-old Sachin Sirohi, who accompanied Akanksha’s uncle Prem Chand, and went to the Ganga Nagar police station on 9 February– just hours before the couple’s sagai/engagement ceremony. Their biggest reservation was a name printed on the wedding card. Shahvez’s name was printed as ‘Sahil’ in one version of the wedding cards distributed by the bride’s side. Aided by members of various Hindutva organisations, a police complaint was filed, which was later converted into an FIR. In 2021, Sirohi was booked in a case that involved pressurising a Hindu woman to slap and assault her Muslim friend. In December last year, Sirohi was accused by the family of a Muslim home-buyer, as the person responsible for threats. Sirohi and other Hindutva groups had opposed the sale of a home to a Muslim family in a posh colony inhabited by Hindus and Sikhs. Now, there is anger among Akanksha’s family members and an urge to respond. Rohan said that if their side could get “people from the Bhim Army”—the way
Kharge raises Odisha anganwadi boycott over Dalit cook in Parliament debate
Congress chief cites NCRB data on atrocities against SCs and seeks accountability, warns caste prejudice in public institutions harms equality and child welfare The Congress on Thursday raised in Parliament the alleged boycott of an anganwadi centre in Odisha’s Kendrapara district after a Dalit woman was appointed cook-cum-helper. Congress president and the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said the incident in Ghadiamal village had brought to light caste-based prejudices among the majority community against the Scheduled Castes. Kharge demanded strong action and accountability in cases of caste-based discrimination. “Had the government taken timely actions in such incidents in the past, this incident would not have happened,” he said. Residents of the Odisha village have stopped sending their children to the anganwadi centre after the Dalit woman was appointed. During Zero Hour, Kharge said that in the 21st century when some people are talking about social reforms and Hindu unity, most families in an Odisha village have refused to have the food prepared by a cook in an anganwadi centre. Kharge said anganwadi centres lay the foundation for children’s cognitive development and such caste-based prejudice would affect their growth. “These incidents reflect caste-based discrimination in workplaces. Recently, many such incidents have come to our notice. Had timely action been taken in those cases, such an incident would not have happened,” Kharge said. He cited several incidents in recent years: a man urinating on a tribal in Madhya Pradesh, a Dalit employee in Gujarat committing suicide because of caste-based exploitation at the workplace, and the linking of an IPS officer’s suicide in Chandigarh to caste bias. “These incidents demonstrate that caste-based prejudices are not limited to social life alone. They get manifested in workplaces too. This affects the dignity, career progress and safety of weaker sections. Such behaviour is a clear violation of Articles 14, 15 and 17. I demand taking strong and time-bound actions. Accountability must be fixed in cases of such violations,” Kharge said. On February 10, minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale had in Parliament quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau to say that the number of cases registered under crimes or atrocities against SCs during 2021, 2022 and 2023 was 50,900, 57,582 and 57,789, respectively. Courtesy : Telegraph India Note: This news is originally published on https:/telegraphindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Red tape: 360 Dalit families live in dark for 40 years in Tamil Nadu
Several poor Dalit families settled down on barren land strips on the city’s outskirts over the years in batches, and were promised patta for nine acres and 13 cents of land by successuve governments. MADURAI: For the nearly 360 Dalit families residing at Theerthakadu village near Vandiyur within Madurai city limits, the tug-of-war between the city corporation and the state revenue department over issuance of land pattas has meant a life without electricity, drinking water, roads, drainage, and sanitation facility for more than 40 years. Though the locality falls under ward 38 of the Madurai City Corporation and is part of the Madurai East Assembly constituency represented by Commercial Taxes Minister P Moorthy, for the authorities, the life of 1,200 residents is a matter unspoken, unheard, and unseen. According to a few residents, several poor Dalit families settled down on barren land strips located on the city’s outskirts over the years in batches, and they were promised patta for nine acres and 13 cents of land by successive governments. Only 68 families, however, received e-pattas from Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin in December last year. This delay in issuing pattas hampered the transfer of common land area for development of amenities by the state revenue department to the city corporation, leading to the delay in creating basic facilities in the locality. Unwilling to put up with this official apathy any longer, the Theerthakadu SC Residents Protection Welfare Association has decided to boycott the upcoming elections. Raising slogans such as “enough is enough”, the residents have pasted posters in and around the village announcing their decision to not vote in any election until they are provided with basic facilities. Speaking to TNIE, Muthamil Pandian, president of the association, said, “We have decided to boycott the Assembly polls in protest against this neglect for over 40 years. We are also planning a rally to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai in the next few days.” During TNIE’s visit to the village, resident N Mullaikodi (35) said more than 350 SC families have been living in the locality since 1983. ‘No power to charge free laptops given to students’ “Although we have constructed houses, the corporation has refused to provide basic amenities. Due to lack of water pipelines, we are forced to shell out Rs 80 for a 100-litre barrel of borewell water (for non-drinking use) and Rs 15 per pot of drinking water,” she said. She further alleged that the lack of electricity connection has made the village unsafe, with miscreants frequently using the area for illegal activities. “We are daily-wage labourers and cannot afford to live in rented houses elsewhere. We can’t go out to work before sunrise or return home after sunset as the locality is pitch dark. It is also dangerous at night due to poisonous insects and snakes,” she said, adding that women and girls are subjected to harassment when they go out to relieve themselves. “With no proper lighting, students are forced to study under candlelight. We are unable to use any electronic equipment, including free laptops, given to students. They remain unused or are sold. Not a single child from our village has graduated in the last 40 years. We are compelled to spend money even for basic necessities. We travel to nearby areas that have electricity and pay Rs 5 per device to charge phones,” said Renuka (30), another villager. A senior revenue official, under condition of anonymity, told TNIE, “We are looking into the issue and taking steps to fulfil the villagers’ demands, including electricity and water connection.” When contacted, Collector KJ Praveen Kumar told TNIE he would check with the Corporation Commissioner regarding the matter. Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Was a Dalit wedding procession stopped in Etah, or did the wedding party misbehave with another community’s function? A scuffle ensued.
Etah Dalit Wedding: A wedding ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district turned into a wrestling match when two groups clashed over dancing to the DJ music. The incident took place in Peepal Tola, Sakiat, where an altercation between the wedding procession and the Tilak ceremony escalated into a violent altercation. Etah News: A wedding ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district turned into a wrestling match when the dancing steps of the wedding procession interfered with each other. The incident occurred in the Peepal Tola neighborhood, where the wedding procession was proceeding on one side and the Tilak ceremony was underway on the other. What ensued? A verbal battle broke out over dance steps, leading to the use of sticks and rods. The situation became so severe that the groom had to seek police protection before the wedding rituals. A ruckus over dancing to a DJ The incident began in the Sakiat police station area, where a Tilak ceremony was taking place at a Shakya community home, and people were enjoying the DJ. Meanwhile, a Dalit wedding procession was passing by. Some young men in the procession began dancing to the DJ. However, the hosts were not happy with the uninvited guests’ dancing. An argument ensued, followed by a scuffle, and the situation quickly escalated into free-style wrestling. Dispute between two communities and the Dalit angle As the night progressed, the dispute escalated. The bride’s sister-in-law directly alleged that the miscreants not only stopped the wedding procession but also assaulted them on caste lines. The other side argued that the dispute was about the DJ and indecency. However, it is being exaggerated by creating an angle of Dalit oppression. Meanwhile, a video of the altercation is going viral on social media, showing the wedding guests and the hosts assaulting each other. Police arrived at the scene as soon as the incident was reported. Given the situation, the police took charge and completed the wedding rituals in their presence. Finally, the groom was able to bid farewell to his bride, albeit under police protection. Etah police are proceeding cautiously in this matter. After an initial investigation, the police stated that “the allegations of stopping the wedding procession or targeting the Dalit community do not appear to be true at first glance. The matter stems from a dispute over dancing on a DJ. However, the viral video and complaints from both parties are being seriously investigated.” Courtesy: Hindi News
Uproar over temple entry: Priest snatches offerings from woman’s hand and throws them on the road; you’ll be shocked to know the reason.
At the Hanuman Temple located at Amroha Gate in Moradabad, a priest prevented a Dalit woman from praying. Priest Sachin Sharma insulted the woman with casteist slurs… Read more Jagran correspondent, Moradabad. A Dalit woman who had come to worship at the Hanuman Temple located at Amroha Gate in the Kotwali area was not allowed to enter by the priest. When the woman attempted to worship, he insulted her with casteist slurs. The priest also threw away the offerings she had brought. Police have filed an FIR against the priest based on a complaint. The incident is three months old. Sushma, a resident of Buddhi Vihar in Majhola, stated in her complaint to the Kotwali police that she frequently visits the Hanuman Temple located near Amroha Gate. On December 9, 2025, at around 7 pm, she went to the temple to pray. The temple priest, Sachin Sharma, a resident of Dewan Bazaar, Nawabpura Road, Nagphani, refused to perform the puja after seeing the woman. The woman nevertheless attempted to enter the temple. The priest became enraged and snatched the prasad from her hand and threw it away. He began using casteist slurs in public. Hearing the commotion, people gathered nearby. They also tried to reason with the priest, but he refused to listen. The priest publicly insulted her using casteist slurs and threatened to kill her if she returned to the temple. Passersby present at the scene also protested. Inspector-in-Charge Rajesh stated that an FIR has been registered against priest Sachin Sharma based on the complaint. The incident is old. CCTV footage will not be available, but the entire matter is being investigated. Further action will be taken after the investigation. BY SACHIN CHOUDHARYEDITED BY: ANSHUL BHARTARIYA Courtesy: Hindi News
Villagers skip meeting to resolve anganwadi boycott over dalit cook
Nuagaon residents refuse to attend meet; only 2 villagers, sarpanch, ward member turn up. KENDRAPARA: The Kendrapara administration’s efforts to convince villagers of Nuagaon under Rajnagar block to end the boycott of the local anganwadi over appointment of a dalit cook failed to yield any result on Wednesday. Acting on the directions of collector Raghuram R Iyer, sub-collector Arun Nayak, Rajnagar tehsildar Jisukrishna Das, district welfare officer (DWO) Arabinda Ray and other officials visited Nuagaon under Ghadiamala panchayat to resolve the issue. However, villagers reportedly refused to attend the meeting. “Only the ward member, sarpanch and two villagers were present, making the chances of a breakthrough slim,” said child development project officer of Rajnagar Dipali Mishra. “Villagers did not attend the meeting as they do not consume food cooked by dalits. No one wants to break this age-old custom. If the administration forces our children and women to eat such food, it may lead to unrest. The administration should appoint a cook from the upper caste to resolve the issue,” said a villager on condition of anonymity. Sources said most villagers preferred to remain silent on the issue. Several educated residents and members of the dalit community are also reluctant to speak. Villagers maintained that nothing unusual has occurred, despite children and women staying away from the anganwadi centre for nearly three months. The riverside village of Nuagaon has around 45 families, including seven dalit households. Ghadimala sarpanch Sailendra Mishra said, “We urged the village leaders to send children to the anganwadi centre, but they ignored our appeals.” He added that pregnant women have also stopped visiting the centre, depriving themselves of services such as supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, iron-folic acid supplements, immunisation and health education. Contacted, collector Iyer said, “The sub-collector has been directed to submit a report after visiting the village. Necessary action will be taken once the report is received.” President of the district unit of Dalit Samaj Nagen Jena alleged that the actions of the villagers violate fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21. “Dalits often face discrimination in temples, but here children and women are being kept away from welfare services. We expect the police and administration to take firm steps,” he said. The anganwadi centre at Nuagaon has reportedly not been functioning since 23-year-old Sarmista Sethi was appointed as a helper-cum-cook at the facility on November 24 last year. Soon after her appointment, the village committee allegedly decided to boycott the centre in protest and stopped sending their kids to the facility as Sethi belongs to the dalit community. Even pregnant and lactating women have refused to visit the centre since then. Ashis Senapati Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights