Inclusive Governance in South Indian Villages: Cases for Effective Leadership among the Scheduled Castes

Panchayats at grassroots level work for rural development, and with the provision under reservation system has opened-up a lot of opportunities for the socially excluded to play their role as elected leaders in the context for sustainable development of villages. The efforts are made by the elected scheduled caste (SC) leaders to address the felt needs and priorities of their electorate in the constituency which they represent in rural community. Authors have documented the case studies of the SC leaders who have excelled in accomplishment for the sake of their own community and others in their constituency. It is a part of the study taken up by the authors in selected village panchayats in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu wherein SC leadership has been leading the panchayats.