Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)
Karkala, Feb 26: The villagers, who have accused the Anganwadi worker and her assistant of negligence in the death of Pruthvi, while eating nutria corn pops provided at the Anganwadi on Wednesday, have demanded the suspension of the Anganwadi staff. It may be recalled that Pruthvi had died of asphyxiation after the food she was consuming got deposited in her windpipe.
The villagers, who organized a meeting at the Anganwadi centre at Kedinje in Bola village in the taluk on Friday, accused the Anganwadi employees of failing to provide timely treatment to Pruthvi, who hails from a poor family. They also appealed to the higher ups in the government to ensure that suitable compensation is paid to the victim’s parents.
Child welfare department development officer, Sadananda Nayak, speaking on the occasion, said that the issue of dereliction of duty on the part of Anganwadi workers will be examined from legal angle after discussing the issue threadbare with higher officials of the department. He said there was nothing wrong with the food provided at the Anganwadi, as confirmed by Dr Yashodar, medical officer of Nitte primary health centre, who checked the health of other children of the Anganwadi.
Bola gram panchayat president, Jayakar Moolya, retired headmaster, N Tukaram Shetty, secretary of Nagarika Seva Trut, Prabhakar Inna, a number of government employees, gram panchayat members, activists of NGOs, and parents of children attending the Anganwadi were present. The meeting also observed a minute’s silence to pray for the departed soul.