Rasipuram in Namakkal district, the constituency of Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister Mathiventhan, has come under scrutiny after allegations that children are being separated by caste in two anganwadi centres.
The centres, located in Pudhukolani and Pudhukolani Valavu under the Rasipuram panchayat union, have been functioning for over 48 years. The two units operate with separate kitchens, toilets, organisers and cooks.
According to local accounts, one centre has 15 Scheduled Caste children while the other has 18 children from other communities, and this arrangement has continued for decades. When the building used by the centre attended by children from other communities became damaged, a new building was constructed during the current DMK government.
Residents said they requested that all children be seated together without discrimination in the new facility, but alleged that no action has been taken even months after the inauguration. A resident, Bhoopathi, said the segregation existed even during his childhood and urged immediate government intervention.
BJP former state president K. Annamalai condemned what he called “modern untouchability”. RDO Shanthi and Tahsildar Sasikumar conducted an inquiry on Wednesday with residents and anganwadi staff. Shanthi said the centres are separate for administrative convenience and that children can shift if they wish, adding that no other discrimination is practised.
