Odisha village shuns anganwadi after Dalit woman's hiring

Bhubaneswar: Sarmistha Sethi, 21, is the first graduate from Odisha's coastal Nuagaon village and one of its few with a government job. Yet at an age to take pride in her achievements, this young woman faces intense caste discrimination and social boycott. Her 'crime'—joining the village anganwadi as helper-cum-cook.

For the past four months, Sarmistha and her family have remained isolated in the village. On Saturday, district administration officials and a State Women's Commission member visited the village, securing villagers' agreement to send children to the anganwadi starting Monday.

When officials arrived in mid-November to post Sarmistha's appointment letter on an electricity pole, 50-60 upper-caste villagers immediately threatened her. "They asked my father and me why a Scheduled Caste woman applied for this job, claiming that if children ate the food I cooked, it will anger the gods," she recalled tearfully.

Since November 20, when Sarmistha joined work, not a single child has attended the anganwadi. No one even comes to collect rations for children or pregnant women. Only two Dalit children show up now. Under village pressure, the previous house owner where the anganwadi was run barred her entry; it now runs from a primary school building.

Though only Class 12 is required for this Rs 5,000 monthly job, graduate Sarmistha chose it as a step toward becoming a teacher. Her mother Minati noted villagers once happily sent their children for tuition to her daughter. "She got it because of her qualifications; influential locals' envy is behind this," she added.

Caste discrimination runs deep in Nuagaon village. Seven Dalit families live at the entrance gate, while 90 upper-caste households stay farther away. Local custom bars Dalits from joining village feasts.

Villager Kulamani Rout admits the boycott decision was collective. Though many hesitate to cite caste fearing legal action, he reiterates it as a group call. To resolve the issue, officials visited directly, with Sub-Collector Arun Kumar Nayak announcing he would eat the food cooked by Sarmistha. He warned of legal action if villagers do not change their stance.