M. Annalaksmi received an order from the Madurai Collector’s office confirming her appointment as anganwadi worker in her village Valayapatti. Ms. Annalakshmi, a Scheduled Caste woman, appointed as a helper and a cook at the anganwadi centre, was transferred to Kilavaneri, a nearby village by the district administration the next day.
“The caste Hindus of the village went to the ICDS office in Tirumangalam taluk and said that their children would never eat food prepared by an SC woman,” she said.
The district administration, succumbing to pressure and fearing backlash from the caste Hindus, immediately transferred her to Kilavaneri and another SC appointee M. Jyothilakshmi to Madhipanur. The latter, appointed as an anganwadi worker in the same Valayapatti centre, was in charge of supervising the cooking. The people who complained said they thought the presence of the two women itself would pollute the food. Both of them now fear going back home alone.
Their transfer comes in the backdrop of a clash between the caste Hindus and SCs.