Today, the Safai Karmachari Welfare Association stood beside her in her fight for justice as she narrated her experiences as the head of the Congress-backed panchayat to the Press. ``From day one, people were placing hurdles before me, and when I started discharging my duties and got the panchayat moving, I was sacked.''

During her tenure, she angered many ``influential leaders''. She was earnest, and only wanted to improve the plight of villagers. She cleared encroachments near the local bus stand and, more importantly, was able to simplify ``Katha transfers'' and issuance of ration cards.

Her predecessors did not do what she did, simply because these areas are considered to be the right place for petty politicians wishing to make a fastbuck.

Adhiamma fears reprisals. Maybe the powerful lobby against which she had worked would get back at her now that she doesn't hold a post, she feels. Safai Karmachari Association president Krishna has hence demanded an inquiry committee be set up to look into the alleged murky financial dealings of the panchayat that Adhiamma tried to expose.

With 18 members in a panchayat of 26 - the second largest in the State reserved for SCs - the Congress opted for the politically correct decision of naming Adhiamma, the only woman Scheduled Caste member, as president. They felt Adhiamma would serve their purpose: be a figurehead president while the influential men took all the decisions.

But that was not to be. Adhiamma worked hard and the people appreciated it. She managed to get things done and in return rubbed many so-called seniors the wrong way. ``These leaders could not bear to see a sweeper-woman becoming the village panchayat president,'' she says. There was tremendous pressure from all quarters.

Andin the end when all else failed, her detractors maintained that Adhiamma, by continuing to clean toilets even after becoming panchayat president, had defiled the post. They moved a no-confidence motion and that was the end of her tenure.

But Adhiamma has made up her mind. She will contest the next elections, and ``continue to clean toilets as it is no crime''.