The Hill Kharia, traditionally hunting and gathering tribal, live in the tract adjoin the three states of W. Bengal, Orissa and Bihar. Hopelessly outnumbered and encysted by other tribal and non-tribal communities they find it difficult to eke out an existence. Their forest niche has been more or less destroyed. In agriculture, late comer as they are, they find only one entry open, as laborers and that too to a limited extent. At one time they ware known as a criminal tribe. Although the Act has been withdrawn the name and behavior still persist.

In this purposive ethnography the impact of poverty on the Hill Kharia’s social institutions and culture has been examined. Marshal Sahlins described the unalloyed existence of the primitive hunting and gathering tribe as “original affluent” condition. But where they live cheek-by-jowl with other communities and have an unequal access to the basic resources the condition is drastically altered. Although the Hill Kharia cannot be considered as suffering from culture of poverty they do suffer from relative deprivation. The author describes how this lead to attenuation in some social institutions and especially, in the concept to reciprocity which is corner-stone of all social interactions. The participation in criminal activities is also an extension of their deprived condition.