Administering representation : making ironies work in grassroots democracies

The violent discriminatory repression of Indian dalits (Scheduled Castes and Tribes) is a tragic reality which the republican constitution could not fully solve in sixty years of operation. The numerous protective and promotional measures enshrined in the constitution and spelt out in Acts of parliament have been insufficient in implementation to meet the repressive practices in its entirety,

The Local self Government law providing for proportional representation was seen by many as a means of grass roots level empowerment of the dalits in internalizing state action for development. Field assessment by officers of the Indian Administrative Service prove that the constitutional mirage are far from being realized in the vitiated culture-custom complex the rural milieu is stuck in.

Field studies in Madurai district of Tamilnadu, a south Indian state noted for its backward classes led state level political circus reveals new forces operating to realize realize the dalit cause. Committed administration from an impartial agency administering representation is as crucial as the lawmaking in this respect. At the same time the contributions of civil society. committed political mobilization and self reliance of dalit groups is playing

an important part.

Micro analysis of the innovative and persuasive techniques used by the district administrator of Madurai to make the local dominant caste the Pramalai Kallars- accept dalit leadership in three villages as village heads is a result of field investigation by a young IAS officer and compilation by his instructor in the National Academy of Administration. India.