The weekly market as a social institution, the links between the local Tribal economy and the outside, and the exploitative economic relationships between adivasis and others, are illustrated by a study of a weekly market in Bastar district. This district is populated by Gonds, an adivasi group.
At the weekly market, you find local people, including tribal and non-tribal, as well as outsiders-mainly traders of various castes. Forest officials also come to the market to conduct business with adiva is who work for the Forest Department, and the market attracts a variety of specialists selling their goods and services.
The major goods that are exchanged in the market are:
1. Manufactured goods (such as jewelry and trinkets, pots and knives),
2. Non-local foods (such as salt and haldi (turmeric)),
3. Local food and agricultural products and manufactured items (such as bamboo baskets), and.
4. Forest produce such as tamarind, oil-seeds and etc. The forest produces that is brought by Adivasis purchased by traders who carry it to towns.
