The Hela are a Hindu Scheduled Caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Mehtar or Mestar. They are a sub-group within the larger Bhangi community of North India.[1]
The Hela are a community of agricultural labourers. Their traditional occupation was that of a village sweeper. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Ghazipur and Mirzapur. They are divided into five sub-groups, the Supa Bhagat, Balmiki, Nourchinwa, Lalbegi and Shaikh-Hela. Traditionally, the community was hierarchical, with the Bhagat considering themselves superior to the other sub-groups.[1]
The 2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh showed the Hela Scheduled Caste population as 52,314.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Two edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 603 to 605 Manohar Publications
- ↑ "A-10 Individual Scheduled Caste Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix - Uttar Pradesh". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 6 February 2017.