Banarpal: In a shocking incident, kids in an Anganwadi centre in Gotamara village under this block in Angul district were shut inside the centre for over an hour as the helper allegedly locked them and went out on some work Tuesday.
While the Anganwadi worker on leave, the woman helper, without having a thought for the tiny tots, locked them up. The kids had nothing to do but to crowd near the gate and peep outside waiting for the arrival of the helper whom they addressed as ‘Didi.’
The children were released from detention after the helper came back and unlocked the gate.
When contacted, the helper tried to defend herself on the plea that she had gone out to bring midday meals for the children.
The incident has come at a time when the government has been making efforts to impart pre-primary education to children through playful methods at Anganwadi centres. The government is also providing midday meals to the kids to attract them to the centres. Tuesday’s incident has sparked resentment among villagers.
After reports surfaced, Anganwadi supervisor Krishna Pradhan visited the centre and took stock of the situation. Guardians claimed this centre is functioning from the village community hall on rent as it does not have its own infrastructure.
It is one of the eight Anganwadi centres functioning in the village. While four of them have their own buildings the rest function from rental accommodations and are plagued by a host of problems. The villagers demanded construction of a building for the centre.
Anganwadi supervisor Pradhan tried to cover up the incident stating that the centre has no kitchen to cook food for the children. As a result, the helper locked the kids inside and went out to bring midday meals cooked at a separate place. The helper did this to prevent the kids from straying outside, Pradhan said. PNN