"We have to sign on the dotted line, when a rich man from a dominant community asks us to -- whether it is a school building or road construction. We are helpless," says Chinna Veeran, panchayat chief of Koduvalarpatti village in Theni district.
"The post of panchayat president continues to be auctioned as we remain fettered by illiteracy, the lack of financial independence and domination of a section of the upper castes," he says.
In some villages in south Tamil Nadu, the "auctioning" helps a nominee backed by an influential upper caste man to take control of fishing rights and forest produce in the panchayat area. If it is a reserved panchayat, then the local rich man would field a candidate of his choice by bidding for the maximum.
Naturally, a Dalit chairman would only obey the orders of his 'master' on whose behalf he wins the bid and is unanimously elected as president.
The state government has admitted that such a system exists in Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul and some other districts, though it may not be restricted to reserved panchayat seats only.
According to a survey conducted by the Tamilnadu Federation of Women Presidents of Panchayats, 20 per cent of the 24,229 Dalits presidents were 'benamis' of the dominant community leaders.
For instance, an official of the Panchayat Development Department said, elections were held with "great difficulty and determination" after 10 years in Pappapatti, Keeripatti, Nattarmangalam and Kottakatchiyendal. In all the four villages, the presidents say they don't wield the powers guaranteed by the law.
The village heads say the police protection given to them cannot last forever. They fear the dominant upper caste men would one day "avenge" their defeat.
"Women Dalit presidents are hesitant to approach officials and ask for their advice", says Shanthi Ammavasi of Valanthur panchayat.
The women presidents face hurdles even when they functioned fairly. Panchayats are pressured to appoint high caste people for the post of clerks, who actually conduct village meetings, along with vice presidents substituting for presidents.
Shanthi Ammavasi says her community members want presence of at least 33 per cent of Dalits in village meetings. "This will help them in airing their grievances".
The caste tensions have often led to violence. A state government official recalls how Murugesan, the Dalit president of Melavalavu Panchayat, and five of his associates were killed by the local upper caste people in 1997. Similarly in Orapakkan, panchayat president Menaka was killed by her own party member, when she fought for removing encroachment on panchayat land.
