Few women refuse to eat food prepared by SC/STs

Chikkaballapur: The caste system has created a problem in the newly launched scheme by the State Government “Mathru Poorna”

Under the scheme, anganwadi workers have to cook and serve nutritious food to pregnant and lactating women at anganwadi centres. 

Of the 1,961 anganwadi centres in Chikkaballapur district, the beneficiaries of “Mathru Poorna” at more than 350 anganwadi centres are keeping away from the centres as food is cooked by those belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes.

It has been reported that some of the beneficiary have refused to consume food prepared by the SC or ST’s. Which has forced some anganwadis to stop providing meals.

Of the total anganwadi workers in the district, 365 are SCs and 343 are STs. A handful of beneficiaries of the Mathru Poorna scheme are coming to have food at anganwadi centres where food is cooked by workers from ‘General category.’

But, it is almost zero at centres with SC/ST workers, it is said.

“We have identified 15 beneficiaries under our anganwadi centre. My assistant and I are both Dalits. Hence, none of the beneficiaries are coming to the anganwadi centre to have food. We prepare food, wait till evening, show it to the gram panchayat members before throwing it away,” said Renuka, a worker at Chikkakadegenahalli anganwadi centre in Chikkaballapur.