The Madiga community's occupation primarily involves tanning leather, making shoes, belts, pouches, toddy containers and bags, which were provided to various castes as needed. The Madiga community is also known for its craftsmanship in making a traditional drum called the Dappu . A significant portion of the Madiga population traditionally worked as shoemakers. They specialized in making and repairing shoes. [22 ] They are also village drummers who use the Dandor or Dappu during festivals, funeral and wedding ceremonies and announcements. Some Madigas traditionally engaged in various village services, including activities such as playing horns, beating drums, removing animal carcasses, cleaning public places and manual labor. In exchange for their services, they received land inam . Those who were particularly involved in physical work were referred to as etti-Madiga . Their duties included cleaning the streets, carrying the luggage of government officials, assisting in the collection of taxes, keeping the peace as guards, housework and farming for the landowner's family. [24 ] In the past, Madigasas were required to provide free labor to landowners under the vetti system for a certain number of days during periods of peak agricultural labor demand. When the payment was made, it was less than that paid to other farmers. [16 ] In some areas, landowners allocated land to Dalits, mainly Madigas, and provided initial resources. In return, the tenant farmers worked in the landowner's fields for a nominal wage and received only 1/3 of the crop after harvest, maintaining their economic dependence. The first social reform movements, driven by paternalistic upper caste leaders, aimed to elevate Madigas by encouraging them to adopt the customs and traditions of the higher castes. This involved abandoning practices such as alcohol consumption and rituals such as buffalo sacrifice. Despite the Madigas' initial enthusiasm, they eventually abandoned these movements, realizing that the higher castes still treated them with the same contempt as before. As a result, they turned to secular paths of advancement, such as getting an education and changing careers - opportunities that the reservation system opened up to them.