Odisha caste row ends; children return to anganwadi centre, consume food cooked by Dalit employee

A three-month-long caste enactment astatine an anganwadi centre successful a colony successful Odisha's Kendrapara territory ended connected Monday (February 16, 2026) arsenic children from precocious caste families returned to the installation and consumed nutrient cooked by a Dalit pistillate helper.

Of the 20 children connected the roll, 16 came to the anganwadi centre successful Nuagaon colony nether Ghalimala gram panchayat with their parents and ate the nutrient cooked by the helper, with the absentees reporting ill.

The anganwadi centre remained unopen since November 21 past year, pursuing the assignment of Sharmistha Sethy, a Dalit woman, arsenic a helper, with respective precocious caste families refusing to nonstop their wards to the installation oregon adjacent judge nutritious nutrient items supplied by the authorities for large women and lactating mothers.

The caste enactment triggered nationwide outrage, and the substance was adjacent raised successful Parliament, with Congress president and Leader of the Opposition successful Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, voicing interest implicit caste favoritism successful the workplace.

On Monday (February 16, 2026), Kendrapara Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Dipali Mishra and Rajnagar MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo were contiguous astatine the anganwadi centre to invited the children.

Anganwadi worker connected caste discrimination

"I served ragi ladoos to the children. Later, I cooked atom and 'dalma' (vegetable curry) and served the children. Seeing them devour the meals made maine overjoyed. They besides played with toys, bringing backmost beingness to the centre, which was near deserted for astir 3 months," Ms. Sethy said.

"I anticipation caste favoritism volition not lurk its disfigured caput successful the colony anymore," she added.

CDPO Mishra said the children, flanked by their guardians, had joyous moments astatine the centre.

"The centre functioned sans the children for astir 3 months owed to immoderate villagers' disagreement implicit the assignment of Sharmistha Sethy arsenic the anganwadi centre helper. Now, the vibrancy is back," Ms. Mishra said.

On the absentees, the CDPO said they could not articulation arsenic they are not well.

"We anticipation the absentee children volition travel to the centre connected Tuesday arsenic the quality has been resolved. People person decided to relegate the differences to the background. This is heartening," she added.

Rajnagar MLA Dhurba Charan Sahoo said, "The contented is present a happening of the past. I anticipation the camaraderie among the villagers volition stay intact."

Taking to X, Kendrapara MP and BJP nationalist vice president Baijayant Panda said, "Delighted astatine children having a nutritious repast contiguous astatine the Nuagaon anganwadi which I had reviewed yesterday and had a fantastic luncheon on with section leaders and villagers. It was heartening to spot the assemblage coming unneurotic to guarantee large beginnings for their children." Mr. Panda and different villagers joined a feast wherever Ms. Sethy served nutrient to the guests connected Sunday.

State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) subordinate Sujata Nayak hailed the children's instrumentality to the centre and said the committee volition motorboat an consciousness thrust aimed astatine safeguarding the rights of the children.

Kendrapara territory sub-collector Arun Nayak had earlier said the substance was resolved successful the beingness of stakeholders, including members of the SCPCR and Odisha State Commission for Women, arsenic the officials sensitised villagers connected the matter.