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Villagers skip meeting convened by Odisha govt over Anganwadi boycott row

February 12, 2026 5 min read Social Issues Polity & Governance GS2 (Social Justice Welfare Schemes) GS1 (Social Issues -- Caste)
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What Happened

  • An Anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village, Ghadiaamal gram panchayat, Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district in Odisha has remained non-functional for over 80 days since November 20, 2025.
  • Villagers stopped sending their children and refused supplementary nutrition after a Dalit woman, Sharmistha Sethi, was appointed as helper-cum-cook at the centre.
  • Before the boycott, approximately 20 children aged 3-6 years attended the centre regularly; attendance dropped to zero from November 21 onward.
  • Pregnant women and lactating mothers in the village have also been deprived of supplementary nutrition services.
  • Despite multiple visits by the District Social Welfare Officer and Sub-Collector for counselling, villagers have refused to accept a Dalit woman at the Anganwadi centre.
  • The Odisha government convened a meeting to resolve the matter, but villagers skipped the meeting, indicating continued resistance.

Static Topic Bridges

Article 17 -- Abolition of Untouchability

Article 17 of the Indian Constitution states: "Untouchability is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of Untouchability shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law." This is one of the few Fundamental Rights that operates not only against the State but also against private individuals, making caste-based discrimination by citizens a constitutional offence.

  • Part III (Fundamental Rights), enforceable under Article 32 (Supreme Court) and Article 226 (High Courts)
  • "Untouchability" in Article 17 refers to the social practice of treating certain castes as untouchable, not the literal meaning of physical touch
  • Enabled Parliament to enact the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955 (renamed Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 after 1976 amendment) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
  • Supreme Court in People's Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India has held that the right under Article 17 is absolute and permits no exceptions
  • Article 35(a)(ii) gives Parliament exclusive power to prescribe punishment for acts of untouchability

Connection to this news: The refusal by villagers to accept food prepared by a Dalit woman and the consequent boycott of the Anganwadi centre constitutes a practice of untouchability directly violating Article 17. This case demonstrates that despite constitutional prohibition, caste-based discrimination continues in practice, particularly in rural areas.

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 (originally the Untouchability (Offences) Act, 1955) was enacted to give effect to Article 17. It criminalises specific acts of untouchability including denial of access to public places, goods, and services on grounds of caste. The SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 provides a stronger framework with enhanced penalties for atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Section 4 penalises preventing access to public places (including shops, restaurants, public services) on caste grounds; Section 7 covers other offences including social boycott; imprisonment of 1-6 months for first offence
  • Amended in 1976 to strengthen provisions, renamed from Untouchability (Offences) Act
  • SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Section 3 defines specific offences including imposing social or economic boycott, garlanding with footwear, and denying customary rights of passage
  • 2016 Amendment added new offences and established Special Courts for speedy trials
  • Supreme Court in Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018) diluted arrest provisions; Parliament subsequently amended the Act in 2018 to restore original stringency
  • Both acts are listed under Seventh Schedule, Union List (Parliament has exclusive jurisdiction)

Connection to this news: The collective boycott of an Anganwadi centre on caste grounds -- refusing food prepared by a Dalit woman and withdrawing children from the centre -- potentially constitutes offences under both the Protection of Civil Rights Act (denial of public services on caste grounds) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (social boycott against an SC individual).

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Anganwadi System

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched on October 2, 1975, is India's primary programme for addressing child malnutrition, health, and pre-school education. Anganwadi centres are the delivery points for ICDS, staffed by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs). The constitutional basis derives from Article 47 (DPSP), which directs the state to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living of its people.

  • Launched: October 2, 1975; one of the world's largest programmes for early childhood care
  • Six services: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunisation, health check-ups, referral services
  • Target groups: children (0-6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls
  • Approximately 13.9 lakh Anganwadi centres across India serving approximately 8 crore beneficiaries
  • Anganwadi Workers and Helpers are honorary workers (not government employees); Supreme Court has noted their "meagre remuneration" despite important social functions
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan (PM's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) launched in 2018 to strengthen ICDS with technology-driven monitoring
  • Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 launched in 2021-22 as an integrated nutrition support programme

Connection to this news: The boycott has effectively shut down ICDS service delivery in Nuagaon village, depriving 20 children of pre-school education and supplementary nutrition, and denying pregnant women and lactating mothers their entitlements -- a direct undermining of the Article 47 mandate and the objectives of the ICDS programme.

Key Facts & Data

  • Village: Nuagaon, Ghadiaamal gram panchayat, Rajnagar block, Kendrapara district, Odisha
  • Centre closed since: November 20, 2025 (over 80 days)
  • Children affected: approximately 20 (aged 3-6 years), attendance dropped to zero
  • Article 17: Abolition of untouchability -- Fundamental Right, enforceable against private individuals
  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Penalises untouchability practices, imprisonment 1-6 months
  • SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989: Enhanced penalties for social boycott and atrocities against SCs/STs
  • ICDS launched: October 2, 1975; approximately 13.9 lakh Anganwadi centres in India
  • Article 47 (DPSP): State shall raise the level of nutrition and standard of living