Abstract

Mainly I Halpati tribe is considered as agriculture labourer in the region under study which includes Valsad, Surat and Bharuch District. Earlier Halpati’s used to be called ‘Dubla’ which is derogatory name in the social set up of the region. Interestingly the Halpati’s are not in real Sense tribe, however, they are not even considered as a segment of hindu caste fold.

Mostly the Halpati’s are integral part of ‘hali system’. However, before independence, the hali system disappeared due to the increasing market production and system that caused to disappearance of traditional arrangement that was based on mutual obligation in the field of obligation, polity and culture. Over a period of time the relation between landlord and hali gradually crystalized as a contextual and impersonal in every walk of life. The present paper makes an attempt to understand economic, political and cultural changes in the region in between landlord and the halpati. In the year 1961, social work among the Halpati’s has been done to organize them. From the social work perspective with the help of Halpati Seva Sang, Bardaoli. In spite of that, the Halpati’s have not recognised these organization, therefore, the effort of the Halpati Seva Sang could not take it as a social movement and was limited to mobilise the people of Halpati at grass root levels.