Introduction / History
The word Dhavad is from the original Marathi word Dhatu which means mineral. This group of people lived in Western Ghats in Maharashtra, and as this soil is rich in iron ore, they use to extract iron from the earth and convert into tools and pots (tawa) for daily use.

Where are they located?
As required to extract iron ore they were mostly located on the mountain tops of Western Ghats, mostly arround Satara, as the soil is red and rich in iron ore. A significant population lives in Mahableshwar and Matheran. Some have traveled down to the Kokan region in search of alternate trade.

What are their lives like?
At present they are all over in small groups in the Western Ghats and live below poverty line, because they could not go any further than manual extraction of iron ore. Hence the trade died and now they are diverted into various petty works for earning their daily bread.

What are their beliefs?
They are followers of Islam.

What are their needs?
As their original trade died, they are now diverted to any skilled work they can find and are mostly living below standard.