A half-naked dark, lean figure. An earthen pot tied across his back. A sickle and a piece of cattle bone tucked into his waist band. Clad in a colourful lungi that is raised above his knees and briskly climbing to the top of the coconut tree. This stereotype of a toddy tapper is all set to change.
The toddy industry, beset with problems, including drastic dip in the number of labourers and low productivity, is being refashioned to suit modern times. And, the toddy tapper is getting an image makeover too. As a first step, a group of trade union activists here is planning to open a training centre for toddy tappers.
P.A. Chandrasekharan, treasurer, Kerala Chethu Thozhilali Federation, affiliated to the CITU, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the training centre, titled ‘Keramadhu Technician Training Centre’ would open on the Kerala formation day on November 1. The centre is a five-acre coconut grove at Kodenchery in Kozhikode district.
“Right now, the industry is facing a shortage of 20,000 to 25,000 labourers. With this venture, we plan to attract fresh blood into the sector,” he said.
Until two decades ago, the industry used to employ around 40,000 labourers. This is now down to 20,000. “There are many socio-political reasons for this fall in numbers, including societal acceptability. Like other traditional sectors such as coir, toddy employees too started getting marginalised.” Added to this was the variation in production of toddy due to climatic reasons.
“It is hard for a young toddy tapper or a toddy worker to find a bride as society looks down upon his trade. It is old-fashioned to be a toddy worker,” a labourer told The Hindu.
The Kozhikode Taluk Chethu Thozhilai Union and the Kalluchethu Vyavasaya Thozhilali Sahakarana Sangham thought up the training centre. Those in the 18-50 age group who can climb coconut trees are eligible for attending the two-month course. Mr. Chandrasekharan, who is also the secretary of the union, said the trainees would get a stipend of ₹5,000 a month. Those successfully completing the course are assured of jobs.
They are also being offered medical insurance for ₹10 lakh. People who suffer injuries during the course of their work would be given a compensation of ₹5 lakh. A sum of ₹5,000 would be given as weekly allowance for security. Mr. Chandrasekharan said the students would be taught to scientifically tap toddy ensuring more productivity.
The union is also planning to bring a new dress code for the tappers. “T-shirts and short knickers have been proposed to give a modern look to the labourers,” Mr. Chandrasekharan added.
