The anganwadi in Odisha’s Kendrapara district has been down for almost three months now. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The nationwide outrage sparked by a three-month boycott of an Anganwadi center following the appointment of a Dalit woman appeared to have had little impact on villagers, who on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) skipped a meeting called by Odisha’s Kendrapara district administration to resolve the crisis amicably.
A team of district-level officials led by the Kendrapara Sub-Collector visited Nuagaon village under Ghadiamal gram panchayat in Rajnagar block where the villagers stopped sending their children to the Anganwadi center after Sharmista Sethy, a 20-year-old graduate from the Dalit community, was appointed as an assistant cook.
“We want the villagers to send their children to the Anganwadi center as the absence affects their pre-school education as well as the healthy food provided by the government for free. However, only the Sarpanch and the ward member (elected representatives) and two villagers turned up for the meeting,” said Deepali Mishra, head of the Child Development Project (CDPO).
According to sources, the villagers do not assign any reason for their boycott as they feel that it might attract legal complications. However, casteism was said to be the main cause of the boycott, said a senior officer involved in mobilizing villagers for an amicable solution.
Ms. Misrha said, “We have asked the Sarpanch and the corps members to hold discussions with the villagers and convince them not to boycott the Anganwadi. It was emphasized that normalcy should return as soon as possible.”
Ms. Sethy, who was the only candidate for the assistant cook position at the Anganwadi center, was appointed on 20 November 2025. To her utter surprise, the parents stopped sending to the center after her appointment. The 20-year-old woman pleaded with the villagers to send their children, but no one paid attention. It is to be mentioned that the woman hails from the same Nuagaon village.
The district administration has made it clear that under no circumstances will the appointment be revoked.
Published – 12 Feb 2026 06:51 IST