Economic System of the Hill Kharias of Mayurbhanj of Odisha in Eastern India

Abstract

The aim of this article is to focus on the economic system of the Hill Kharias of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha in Eastern India. The economic system of the Hill Kharias of Mayurbhanj is an interesting aspect of the primitive tribal economy of Odisha. The Hill Kharia tribe of Mayurbhanj is identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Odisha in India by considering its characteristic features. The economic life of Hill Kharias are really connected with their forest economy, agricultural cycle and other sources as labourers in various developmental works / schemes of the Government of India. Their income is spent in the purchase of daily food items, dress, ornaments and house maintenances. Most of their expenditure is found for the purchase of rice beer (handia). The Hill Kharias of Mayurbhani mostly depend upon their verity of forest product things and few shifting cultivation on hill slopes and different forest areas. In  Mayurbhanj District of Odisha the Hill Kharia people were not only participating  regularly in  agriculture but also participating like other neighbouring people like  daily labour, govt. jobs, out state company works for the last few years seen. They had been doing various kinds of agricultural activities, only in transplantation of rice seedlings and in harvesting.  Due to improvement of the communication facilities, many changes seem to have been taken place in the economy life of the Hill Kharias of Mayurbhanj. Methodologically, both the primary and secondary sources have been used by the authors for the writing of this article.