Odisha: Anganwadi Worker Accused Of Siphoning Money Meant for Pregnant Women, Children

Dhenkanal: As if all the corruptions in various departments of the government was not enough, a fresh allegation of an Anganwadi worker siphoning money meant for foods of pregnant women and school children rocked Dhenkanal district on Monday.

The accused anganwadi worker, Mamina Nayak from Govindpur village under Jayapurakateni Gram panchayat in Dhenkanal's Parjang block has allegedly forged signature to swindle public money originally meant to procure Rice, Chatua and Eggs to be consumed by school children and pregnant women of the village.

While the documents of the Anganwadi centre reportedly revealed that the school children have been fed rice, egg and chatua everyday, in reality, they were deprived of these foods since more than four months, making it a possible case of gross corruption.

Bijuli Das, a local of Govindpur said, "While all other Anganwadi centres are providing rice and eggs to the children, this one in Govindpur has not given anything since four months. Mamina has also lied to us saying that the centre has not received anything from the government."

"The teaching has gone to dumps here in this anganwadi centre. Pupils are sent back whenever they reach there to study," alleged Bijuli.

Moreover, Mamina has been accused of forcibly using the Anganwadi centre as her own home from where she operates her shoddy business.

Refuting the allegations, Chaunri Nayak, another Anganwadi Worker from the same centre said, "The allegations are baseless. We have three pregnant women and 27 school children here who are provided with egg, rice and chatua regularly."

When OTV dialled up Kanak Manjari Deo, the CDPO of Parjang and inquired about the allegations, she said, "I will visit the village and meet the beneficiaries. Strict action will be taken against the accused if I found the allegations right."

(Edited By Pradeep Singh)