Bidar: ‘Upper caste’ locals stop sending children to Anganwadi centre after Dalit helper appointed

Bidar: Upper caste residents of the Bidar district in Karnataka have stopped sending their kids to the Anganwadi centre run by the state government after it appointed a Dalit woman as a helper.

The locals of Hatyala village have boycotted the anganwadi centre ever since the appointment of Milana Bai Jaipa Rane in June 2021.

The centre had remained closed due to Covid-19 but resumed operations since the last few months.

The parents, who have refused to send their children to the centre, have said that they won’t allow the Dalit helper touch their children.

However, a teacher, Sumitra Bai, at the centre also belongs to the Dalit community and the locals have no problem with it.

After the incident came to light, district authorities and officials of the Women and Child Welfare Department rushed to the village and took up an awareness campaign to convince the locals.

However, sources say that none of the parents have agreed due to which the authorities are planning to intensify their campaign.

(With inputs from IANS)