Kendrapara Anganwadi Caste Dispute Resolved, Children to Return From Monday

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Caste-related dispute over Dalit helper at Anganwadi centre resolved in Kendrapara.
Parents unanimously agreed to send children back to the pre-learning centre.
Intervention by child rights and women’s commissions helped break the deadlock.

Kendrapara: The Kendrapara Anganwadi caste dispute that had disrupted early childhood education in a village of Odisha has finally been resolved, with parents and guardians agreeing to send their children back to the pre-learning centre from Monday. The breakthrough came after sustained intervention by state-level statutory bodies and district authorities, officials said on Saturday.

The dispute had erupted in Nuagaon village under Ghalimala gram panchayat, within Rajnagar police limits of Kendrapara, following the engagement of a Dalit woman as an Anganwadi helper.

Anganwadi Centre Shut for Months After Caste Row

In the fallout of the caste-related controversy, several upper-caste families had stopped sending their children to the Anganwadi centre for nearly three months in protest against the appointment. As a result, the centre had remained virtually non-functional, depriving children of crucial pre-learning support ahead of formal schooling.

Earlier attempts by the district administration to resolve the standoff by deputing senior officials to the village failed to yield results, as entrenched positions and social prejudice continued to block consensus.

Rights Panels Step In to Break Deadlock

The situation changed after members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Odisha State Commission for Women visited Nuagaon village and held detailed discussions with local residents.

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The teams sensitised villagers on the harmful impact of caste-based discrimination and stressed the importance of safeguarding children’s rights and access to early education. Following a series of meetings, parents unanimously agreed to resume sending their children to the centre.

Kendrapara Sub-Collector Arun Nayak said the Anganwadi centre would function normally from Monday onwards, as consent had been obtained from all stakeholders.

Focus on Children’s Welfare

Sujata Nayak, a member of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said disconnecting children from the pre-learning system was detrimental to their future.

“Safeguarding the interest of children is of paramount importance. It is gratifying that the locals have pledged to cooperate and ensure the normal functioning of the centre,” she said.

Kalpana Mallik, a member of the Odisha State Commission for Women, echoed similar views, stating that the administration’s intervention had helped remove negative perceptions and pave the way for social harmony.

Village Leaders Welcome Resolution

Local Sarpanch Sailendra Mishra described the episode as an aberration, saying that Nuagaon, home to around 450 people, has traditionally enjoyed strong social bonding and camaraderie.

“We are hopeful such incidents will not recur. The dispute has been forgotten,” he said.

Gobardhan Pradhan, a local resident, also said the village would no longer oppose the engagement of the Dalit Anganwadi helper, signalling a return to normalcy.

Wider Challenges Remain

The Anganwadi centre, which became the focal point of the caste row, does not have a building of its own and currently operates from the local primary school. The village also faces multiple challenges, including poor road connectivity, inadequate drinking water, irrigation issues and even threats from crocodiles in nearby water bodies.

Officials said the resolution of the Anganwadi dispute is a positive step toward social inclusion, but stressed that sustained efforts are needed to address the broader developmental concerns of the region.

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