What is "madval"

Madval, sometimes also known as Dhobi is a washerman community of Goa and rest of the Konkan.They claim to be Rajakas.The occupation of washermen is a hereditary occupation and the washermen are known as madval. The services of washermen are essential for the people of the urban as well as rural areas alike. They have their own localities which are sometimes gifted to them by the temples for the services they render.