India’s upper-caste Hindus boycott childcare center over Dalit cook
Upper-caste Hindu families refuse food cooked by lower-caste Hindu woman, denying nutrition services to dozens of children
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A government-run rural childcare and nutrition center in eastern India has remained effectively shut for nearly three months after upper-caste families boycotted the facility in protest over the appointment of a Dalit woman as cook, underscoring persistent caste discrimination in parts of the country.
The center, located in Nuagaon village in Odisha state’s Kendrapara district, provides meals, early childhood education and basic health services under India’s Integrated Child Development Services program. Known locally as an “Anganwadi”, such centers form the backbone of the country’s public nutrition and maternal health network in rural areas.
The disruption began after 23-year-old Sarmista Sethi, who belongs to the Dalit community — historically marginalized groups formerly labeled “untouchable” under Hindu caste hierarchy — was appointed as helper-cum-cook in November 2025.
According to Sethi, some upper-caste villagers objected to their children consuming food prepared by a Dalit woman and urged families to stop sending children to the center. “They warned me not to cook for the children,” she said. When she refused to step down, attendance dropped sharply.
Village authorities estimate that nearly 60 children have been affected, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women who rely on the center for supplementary nutrition and health monitoring.
Local officials said they have attempted to persuade families to resume participation. Dipali Mishra, a senior development officer overseeing the block, said meetings were held with community members but the impasse continues.
A delegation of Dalit rights activists recently visited the village and called for legal action against those enforcing the boycott. They cited a 2004 Supreme Court order that prioritized hiring candidates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as cooks in public meal programs, partly to counter caste-based exclusion.
India formally outlawed caste discrimination decades ago, and its Constitution guarantees equality before law. Yet social practices rooted in centuries-old hierarchy continue to shape access to resources and public institutions, particularly in rural areas.
Kendrapara district authorities said they have sought a detailed report and promised action if violations of law are confirmed. Officials also said efforts are underway to restore services to ensure children and mothers do not remain deprived of essential nutrition and care.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
