Koli, caste with many subgroups who inhabit the central and western mountain area of India. The largest groups of Koli live in the state of Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, and in Gujarat state. The traditional occupation of the coastal Koli is fishing, although many are now employed in schools and government offices. The other land-based Koli are chiefly concerned with agriculture. The Koli are largely Hindu but retain some aspects of their former animism. They are listed as a Scheduled Caste in the Constitution of India, though their status remains ambiguous, with some members working to remove the Kolis from the Scheduled Caste list because of the stigma it carries and others enjoying the benefits of that status, such as more financial assistance and better educational opportunities.