Two anganwadi workers from a Scheduled Caste community at Valayapatti village in the district, who were transferred from the village due to pressure from dominant caste Hindus, finally began working at the village on Friday.
The two women – M. Jyothilakshmi (worker) and M. Annalakshmi (helper) – were asked to work in Madhipanur and Kilavaneri villages respectively after at least 20 members of the dominant caste pressurised the officials from the Integrated Child Development Service wing of the district administration in Tirumangalam block to transfer them from Valayapatti.
Their transfer was sought since the members of the dominant caste did not want their children to eat the food prepared by two SC women, Ms. Jyothilaksmi said.
“The cook made spinach and potatoes for the children today (Friday), but only 10 children had arrived. They were all from our community,” she said.
The two workers, however, could not work from the State-established anganwadi centre, because the structure was maintained poorly. “Instead, we have been asked to work in a chavadi in the Dalit Colony,” she said.
R. Indira, District Project Officer, ICDS, police and Revenue department officials visited the makeshift anganwadi to ensure protection to the two workers, said a block-level officer.
The officer added that the two women were only given additional charge of the two centres. “There was no written transfer order. We only asked them to carry out their work in nearby centres as there were no children in Valayapatti,” the officer said.
