Dalit women representative was same as it wasyears ago. The Centre and State governments would have to workcollectively for the empowerment of Dalit women and there was need fora multisectoral approach to development and proper implementation ofpolicies, she said.

Following the testimonies, a jury put forth certain recommendations.They called for establishing a special office in each district to actas a support mechanism for Dalit, Adivasi and women panchayatpresidents. The office should provide advice, training and informationas well as monitor the performance of duties and interventions byothers such as panchayat members and government officials.

The special office should mediate and resolve problems encountered bypanchayat representatives.

In another recommendation, the jury said the State ElectionCommissions should set up a fund to provide basic financial supporttowards election cost to Dalits, Adivasis and women ingeneral fallingwithin a stipulated low household income bracket.

It called for setting up an autonomous statutory directorate for allreserved panchayats at the State level, headed by a Dalit, Adivasiwoman IAS officer, and assistant directorates at the district level,headed by a Dalit/Adivasi woman officer below the rank of IAS, tofunction under the directorate. These two institutions should fallunder the jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly through theGovernor. They should monitor and review the pre and post-electionperformance of the reserved panchayats, and submit annual reports tothe Assembly.

The jury called for mandating the National and State Scheduled Caste,Scheduled Tribe and Women's Commissions with sufficient powers, fundsand staff to specifically inquire into political obstruction orviolence committed against Dalit women and men, Adivasis and otherwomen elected representatives.

A resolution to strengthen the legal framework such as