s. m. (M.), ) lit. The mud gang; the gang of statute labourers summoned for emergent work while the canals are running. The annual clearance and repiars of the inundation-canals are done by chheṛas, or statute labourers, while the canals are dry; but if any emergent work is required to be executed while the canals are running, additional chheṛas (called chikkaṛ chheṛ, or the mud gang, because they have to work while the clay has been turned into mud by the canal-water) are summoned.