‘You Are Just An Anganwadi Worker, How Dare You Insult An MLA’: Asks Angry BJD Legislator

The Panchayat Samiti office at Boiparigudain Koraput witnessed an unprecedented turn of events on Wednesday when the local MLA, Raghuram Padal confronted an Anganwadi worker who threw a barrage of questions at the Biju Janata Dal legislator on their welfare.

Koraput MLA and the District Planning Board President, Padal, was at Boipariguda to distribute COVID kits to the ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and health workers who joined the event from several Panchayats of the Block.

Events took an ugly turn for Padal when an Anganwadi worker climbed up the stage and confronted him with a volley of questions regarding their welfare.

She alleged that when tragedy strikes, all the government authorities look towards to the Aanganwadi workers to do all the ground work. But nobody cares for them when they languish in neglect.

“Nobody lends us an ear when we plead for better salary or facilities. We are not paid the salary on time. We have not received rice since six months. And now you order us to come to Boipariguda to take the kits, while those could have been given to us at the Anganwadi centres,” she was seen saying on the stage.

Padal, who was taken off guard by the questions, gave a hearing to the Aanganwadi worker for some time before he ran out of patience. In a fit of rage he asked her, “How dare you question an MLA. If you really want to question me, then fight me from my constituency for the seat.”

Speaking about the incident on stage, Padal later said, “The State government never neglected the health workers. In fact, I have always fought for their welfare. Otherwise, why would I be here distributing COVID kits?”