The constitutionally guaranteed affirmative action policies have had some positive impact in increasing the representation of Dalits in educational institutions, governmental jobs and elected positions. Notwithstanding this improvement, Dalits continue to remain the most underprivileged class of Indian society: the stigma they face remains evident to this day. Dalits in general continue to survive under inhumane, degrading conditions.  

Decentralized governance in India was enabled by the 72nd and 73rd Amendments to the Indian Constitution which granted wider powers to village panchayats and town municipalities. In regions designated under Schedule V of the Constitution because of their large Scheduled Tribe population, the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act 1996 (PESA) empowers village communities to exercise a range of rights over land, water, forests and other commons. The legal provisions of panchayati raj address the inequalities in Indian society by reserving positions for women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.To effectively realize the powers granted for decentralized governance and to implement the welfare programmes now entrusted to the community requires collective mobilization. Inside Jharkhand has been instrumental in working on various aspects of community empowerment, enabling Dalits & Tribals to exercise their rights as active citizens and organizing them to take control over their resources and state welfare funds, to secure the benefits of development.

Inside Jharkhand advocates with state governments to change or implement their laws and policies, we help victims seek justice and strive to hold perpetrators to account.