NGOs are legitimized by their role in creating empowered citizens who will demand state accountability and good governance, build a strong and vibrant civil society, and deepen democracy. By charting the chronological evolution of the tribal struggle in southern Karnataka and by applying an analytical framework that accounts for positional as well as conditional changes within communities, this article explores the ways in which organizational strategies and practices produce uneven empowerment and varied ‘thickening’ of civil society. Further, it highlights the role of local NGOs in enabling tribal communities to take advantage of openings created by the state for articulating demands for self-rule. The article draws on the experiences of four local NGOs, their informal but longstanding network, the Tribal Joint Action Committee, and associated peoples' organizations to emphasize the impact of everyday organizational practice in shaping democracy.
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