Strengthening Dalit Leadership in Panchayats

Samarthan has initiated an initiative to promote dalit leadership in Panchayats in the Bundelkhand region. Despite the provisions in the 73rd Constitutional Ammendment, the dalits in Panchayats have still not got their due in public decision making. The caste dynamics and caste politics play a major role in every stage of the election process like voter list updation, delimitation of constituencies, filing of nomination of candidates and voting. With the Panchayat Elections due in January 2009, Samarthan has intervened in Panna, Damoh, Chhattarpur and Damoh Districts of Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. Orientations of Civil Society organisations and Community Based Organisations working on dalit issues have been conducted in these districts. The organisations are now preparing to mobilise dalits to participate proactively in the election process. The organisations will also organise a campaign for watch on the process of election on the election date in 60 Polling Stations.