Anganwadi workers lock kids, leave to collect ration

G Udayagiri: Allegations have surfaced that four children were locked inside an Anganwadi centre here in Kandhamal district by the Anganwadi worker and helper, who then left to collect ration supplies, raising concerns over the safety of the children.

The incident came to light Tuesday at the Kambanaku Anganwadi centre under Malikapadi panchayat when Kambanaku sar panch Jharana Pradhan, along with a Gaon Sathi and other employees, visited the centre while attending ‘Angan Ka Utsav’ programme at different Anganwadi centres in the panchayat. They found four children locked inside the centre. Anganwadi worker Shradhanjali Digal and helper Sumitra Pradhan had reportedly gone to collect ration supplies. The sarpanch waited for some time before informing the children’s parents, who arrived at the centre and expressed anger over finding their children locked inside.

Pradhan then informed G Udayagiri CDPO Kalpana Satapathy over the phone and showed her the children locked inside the centre through a video call. As the CDPO was in Baliguda at the time, she directed a supervisor and other employees to visit the centre. Meanwhile, the Anganwadi worker and helper returned to the centre. After the children were brought outside, the sarpanch spoke to them.

Pradhan alleged that the children were being locked inside the centre regularly and said the matter should be investigated. CDPO Satapathy said the Anganwadi worker and helper had been asked to explain why they locked the children inside the centre and left to collect ration supplies. The sarpanch also alleged that the workers at the Anganwadi centre had repeatedly neglected their duties.