The Bind are caste found in North India. They are also known as Bin or Chai.
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History and origin
The Bind originate from the Vindhya hills in central India. According to their traditions, the daughter of [Nishad], on the way to her husband's house, was passing by a rive.
The Bind are sub-divided into seven occupational group.
Bind community also claim that they belong to the Siṃha community.
In Bihar, according to their traditions, the Bind once belonged to the [Noniya]caste, while the ancestors of the Bind fled to the forests, and evolved into a distinct community.They have two sub-divisions, the Noniya, Jethaut and the Kharaut. They are found in the districts of Samastipur, Begusarai, Darbanga ,and Saran.
Present circumstances
The Bind are among 17 Other Backwards Class communities that have been proposed for Scheduled Caste status by the Samajwadi Party-controlled Government of Uttar Pradesh. However, this proposal, which relates to votebank politics and has been made in the past, has been stayed by the courts; a prior attempt was also rejected by the Government of India.
The Bind have a traditional caste council, and like other occupational castes, maintain strict social control over members. They are Hindu, and customs similar to other similar groupings such as the Kewat. They are concentrated in eastern Uttar Pradesh, and speak Bhojpuri.
Manufacture of mats remains their main occupation and involves the collection of reeds from river banks. The community are entirely landless, although many are sharecroppers. The Kewat and Bind are essentially fishermen, while other sub-groups are involved in the raising of milch cattle.
In Bihar, the Jethaut are mainly engaged in fishing, well sinking and basket making, the Noniya are salt manufacturers, while the Kharaut are mainly farmers. They speak the Maithili dialect of Hindi.