ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF BIRHORS IN PURULIA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Birhors, least known jungle tribe migrated from the forest areas of Ranchi and Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand state and settled themselves in three community blocks of Purulia in early sixties. Hunting- gathering and rope manufacturing are the two main economic activities of the Birhors. They mostly trap rabbit, which they do not kill for meat but sell in the neighbouring market place in Baghmundi town. The economy of the Birhor people is based on rope making. They utilize the local resources, 'chihor lata'(creeper use for making rope).