Fourteen more green labour army units will be set up by the Kudumbashree to make the most of the employment opportunities in the rubber tapping sector. This will help women earn income from a new avenue and address the lack of skilled labour in the sector, not to mention increase in the production of rubber.
In addition to the 17 green labour army units that are functional, skill training will be provided to 210 women to set up the 14 new units.
Last year, Kudumbashree and the Rubber Board had together organised training in rubber tapping for 255 select women from neighbourhood groups across the districts to form the 17 units. They were given identity cards, uniform, and equipment required for tapping. The women were also ensured jobs on the plantations of the Rubber Board. If the plantations were far away and the women could not go there, opportunities for employment nearer home were found.
At present, many members of the green labour army tap rubber in nearby places to earn over ₹6,000 a month.
Members of the unit who work at various jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and in other sectors can earn an additional source of income through rubber tapping.
To ensure a steady source of income, along with rubber tapping, training and other support will be given in beekeeping and other attractive ventures.
All women who are active in the rubber tapping sector have been given membership of rubber producing societies. This ensures that green labour unit women in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts not only have a regular source of income, but also get other benefits due to the them.
It was in Ernakulam that 17 women were given training first and formed into a green labour army called Haritha under the Ramamangalam rubber producing society. Its succeess led the to the expansion of the initiative to more areas.
