The traditionally forest-dwelling tribe lack experience in agriculture, and rely on the forests for their livelihood. In recent years, with the spread of the
Naxalite rebellion in the area, the police often restrict their access to the forest. In 2004, five persons in the Sabar village of Amlasole, in
Midnapore district, died after several months of starvation, leading to a national media furore. Subsequently, Durbar Mahila Samanway Committee (DMSC) started a school in the area, funded partially by sex workers from
Kolkata. In June 2008, the Sabar suffered severe flooding in many of their West Bengal villages, and then received large amounts of aid from Catholic missionaries. Hundreds of Sabars migrated to present-day Bangladesh during the
colonial period to work as tea garden labourers. Today, there are around 2000 of them residing in the northeastern district of
Moulvibazar, in areas such as
Nandarani,
Harinchhara and Rajghat. In Gplot which is in
Sundarbans, under
Patharpratima block which is in South 24 parganas it has been observed that there is presence of Sabars, who have migrated from Midnapore district of West Bengal. Currently there are 2500-3000 people of Sabar community residing there. ==Language==