Anganwadi worker’s expose sparks row

Mumbai: An innocuous video of bad quality food items posted by an Anganwadi worker in Pune sparked off a major political spat with the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi trading charges.

Three days ago, an Anganwadi worker, Reshma alias Devyani Pardhi - who also doubles as a teacher - at the Thakurwadi-Chass Gram Panchayat in Ambegaon taluka of Pune, posted a video of inferior and uncookable dried yellow peas served as lunch to the tiny tots there.

She claimed that despite 9-10 times of pressure cooking, the dried yellow peas failed to cook and this happened frequently with different types of foodgrains given to this Anganwadi Centre. Worried about the children’s health and safety forced her to spend from her own pocket to buy better quality grains, she contended.

Pardhi urged the Food & Drugs Administration Commissioner Tukaram Munde to intervene in the interests of the kids’ health as they suffered from tummy-aches, vomiting or loose motions and flatly refused to eat it, but this angered the powers-that-be.

As the video went viral evoking strong reactions, the local administration reportedly removed her from service, triggering a huge fracas as the villagers stood firm with her and demanded her reinstatement. At one point, the plucky Pardhi hit back saying that if she is “a government servant” as claimed by the officials, then she and others should be entitled to the VIIth Pay Commission salaries and benefits.

Ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ambegaon MLA Dilip Walse-Patil admitted that ‘quality issues’ exist statewide and not limited to Ambegaon (Pune district) but similar concerns have been reported from elsewhere in the state.

Responding to Pardhi’s claim that she had lodged written complaints in the past, Walse-Patil said if the officials failed to take note, they should be held accountable.

“The procurement of these foodgrains is done at the Commissioner or the state-level. The officials concerned and the contract suppliers are responsible for ascertaining the foodgrains quality and are liable for action,” Walse-Patil told the local media.

Strong Reaction

Pune Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders also reacted strongly, while the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Dr. Amol Kolhe (Shirur Constituency) and his party MLA Rohit R. Pawar (Karjat-Jamkhed assembly seat) slammed the government for the “extremely unfortunate” disciplinary action against the Anganwadi worker.

“This is a classic case of releasing the thief and punishing the innocent. Instead of commending the Anganwadi worker for exposing the system flaws and taking corrective steps they are targeting her,” fumed Dr. Kolhe.

“Rather than taking action against the contractors/officials, the government has chosen to serve a suspension notice to Pardhi. It must be revoked and this whole matter must be investigated within 10 days,” Rohit R. Pawar said on social media.

Villagers back Anganwadi worker

After Anganwadi worker Reshma alias Devyani Pardhi’s revelations snowballed into a political storm, Thakarwadi-Chass villagers stood solidly behind her and feel she has done nothing wrong by pointing at the discrepancies.

“She has been serving sincerely for the past 18 years, and even teaching our children. She must be taken back in service,” said a villager whose tiny-tots attend the Anganwadi.

Another parent applauded Pardhi saying that on several occasions, instead of serving inferior quality food, she bought good food-grains at her own expense, and would walk down around 4-5 kms daily to the Anganwadi.