"This study is based on the field survey carried out in four states of India on
the emerging Dalit leadership in panchayats after the 73rd Constitution
Amendment Act. It concentrates on some of the issues like: What have been
experiences so far of Dalit leaders in panchayats? How do they perceive their
newfound role? What are enabling and inhibiting factors? What changes these
affirmative actions have brought out at ground levels? What needs to be done to
make Dalit leadership more effective so that it brings out positive changes in
quality of life of its people? Though, situations in different states vary but
still there are certain