When Norti Bai, sarpanch of Harmara in Rajasthan, refused to give into the demands of upper caste men in her village, her daughter-in-lawRam Peari was branded a "witch." The villagers called for Peari's"social boycott" and excommunication.

In Alwar district in the State, Sunita Bairwa of Bahedakhah wasassaulted because the upper castes were unhappy about a Dalit beingelevated to sarpanch.

These and similar testimonies were shared at a day-long public hearingon caste bias and atrocities faced by Dalit elected representatives,held here on Tuesday. Organised by the All-India Dalit Mahila AdhikarManch, the event highlighted the stories of discrimination andviolence against Dalit women elected representatives from in Bihar,Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

"It took us days to get the police to file a complaint. I wasvictimised because we are from the lower caste and mymother-in-lawwas doing some good work for the village. The upper caste men couldnot tolerate it, they wanted her to toe their line and when sherefused to, they accused me of being a witch and of performing blackmagic on another woman," said Ram Peari.

Most elected representatives facing harassment complained that thepolice and the administration were also not supporting them. "Aschairperson of the district council of Aurangabad, I am not even keptinformed of the day-to-day functioning. When I raise important issues,I am told that because of my caste, I will not even be heard,"complained Ranju Devi from Bihar.

In her village, she alleged, her husband was beaten up by upper castemen who objected to her candidature.

No change in status

Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, who addressed the hearing,said the status of the