India: The Urali Kurumar

The Urali Kurumar is a subgroup of the Kuruman people. The Kurumar people live in the Wayanad District of Kerala in southern India. The total population living in Kerala is 23,444.; The overall literacy rate is 38.69%  - much lower than the national average. Most of the villages on the hills where the Kurumar people live do not have proper roads and basic necessities such as electricity, potable water, and a health clinic.

The Urali Kurumar are settlers who live in a sturdy houses and engage in agriculture. They collect honey and other forest products as they continue to live in the forestland. Nowadays, they are active in different sectors and often perform manual labor, working for other rich landlords, tea and coffee plantations, and in forest and other government departments.