Mankirdia

The Mankidia constitute a semi nomadic section of the Birhor tribe. They are primarily a food gathering and hunting community. For their traditional skill  of rope making, trapping and eating monkey, their neighbours call them  'Mankidi' or 'Mankidia'. In the district of Kalahandi and Sundergarh, they are named Mankidi whereas in Mayurbhanja and Sambalpur district, they are named as Mankidia. They catch and kill monkeys and eat their meat. When the monkeys create havoc in rural areas and destroy crops, fruits and vegetables, the local people employ the Mankidia to catch them. They are one of the most primitive and  little known forest dwelling and wandering communities of the state as well as the country. They wander inside forest in small bands and stay at different tandas- the temporary make shifts settlements comprising of temporary dom shaped leaf hut known as Kumbhas.They speak a form of Murda language and some of them are also conversant in Odia. The nomadic hunter gatherer exemplifies the past life of men in forest in archaic conditions. The scenic Chhotnagpur pateau is believed to be their state of origin. From there they might have migrated to different parts of Odisha and ultimately chosen temporary habitations around the hill tracts.