As per the traditional tribal council the hereditary headman called ‘Koyma’ who acts as the head for areas called ‘Nadu’. Under him, there are ‘Chemmi’ who are the actual functional heads of each settlement and they are assisted by messengers called ‘Karayma’. Ippimalteyya is the supreme spirit as per the native religion of the tribe, besides which, there are family deities namely Guliyan; and illateyya for each illam.
The community depends on agricultural labour for survival.Both sexes take part in the activities related to planting and harvesting of paddy. They are one of the major workforce of agricultural/cash crop cultivation (like ginger cultivation) in the region and adjoining areas of Karnataka.The total population of the Paniyan as per 2011 Census is 88,450 among them 42,775 are males and 45,675 are females. The sex ratio is 1068 females per 1000 males. Their literacy rate is 63.2 percent.Smt. Bindu Damodaran,Ms. Prakriti etc are famous poets belonging to this community.