Children have returned to an Anganwadi centre in Nuagaon village after it was boycotted for months following the appointment of a Dalit cook, with the breakthrough coming a day after BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda publicly ate a meal prepared at the facility. The move appears to have helped ease tensions that had kept many families away from the centre. The development marks a tentative step toward restoring normal services. Local officials are continuing to watch the situation closely. The centre had been largely non-functional for nearly three months.

The Anganwadi had remained shut since November 21 last year after Sharmistha Sethy was appointed as cook and helper. According to reports, several upper-caste families had refused to send their children to the centre. They had also declined to accept government-supplied nutritious food meant for pregnant women and lactating mothers. The boycott disrupted delivery of key welfare services in the area. It also raised concerns among authorities about social discrimination affecting public programmes.

In an effort to address the impasse, Panda—who is also a national vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party—visited the centre on Sunday. During the visit, he reviewed the facilities and interacted with staff and community members. He also shared a meal cooked by Sethy along with local leaders. The gesture was widely seen as an attempt to counter the social boycott. It aimed to reassure villagers about the Anganwadi’s functioning.

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The impact became visible the following day. Sixteen children attended the centre on Monday and consumed the food prepared by Sethy. The turnout suggested a gradual rebuilding of trust among families that had earlier stayed away. Officials described the development as an encouraging sign. However, they indicated that sustained engagement would be necessary. The goal is to ensure regular attendance going forward.

After his visit, Panda said he remained focused on strengthening grassroots welfare delivery. He expressed pride in supporting Anganwadi workers who serve at the community level. In a subsequent social media post, he said it was “heartening to see the community coming together.” He emphasised the importance of ensuring proper nutrition for children. His remarks highlighted the broader objective of inclusive welfare access.

The episode underscores continuing social challenges in some rural pockets despite the presence of government schemes. Authorities and local representatives are expected to keep monitoring the centre’s functioning. Ensuring uninterrupted services remains a priority for the administration. Officials hope the recent progress will translate into sustained participation. The situation is being viewed as a test case for community-level inclusion efforts.

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