The name of the Karimpalan community comes from their traditional occupation of collecting charcoal, called kari in that part of southern India. They also hunted, gathered food, made baskets, and worked as laborers on plantations.

Almost all of the Karimpalan people live in India's far southwestern state of Kerala.

Today they still weave baskets and cultivate the land, but many are self-employed as laborers. About 70 percent of them are agricultural laborers. Less than 20 percent of them still live as hunter/gatherers.

The Karimpalan people want both their sons and daughters to get an education. Since they already speak the language of Kerala, Malayalam, they are not put at a grave disability when they go to school.

The Karimpalan people are 100 percent Hindu. They also worship village deities.

Though they speak the local language, Malayalam, the Karimpalan people have a slightly lower than average literacy rate. In some cases people who come with the gospel can use printed materials, since there are many Malayalam gospel materials. There is a very large church in Kerala, so believers can go to them.

* Scripture Prayers for the Karimpalan in India.

Pray that believers will soon rise to the call to take the gospel to the Karimpalan people. Pray for openness to Christ.