The Justice K.P. Sivasubramanian Committee, constituted by the State government in June last year to go into issues concerning coconut and palm tree workers, did not arrive at a consensus on the issue of allowing toddy tapping.
Giving a summary of the findings of the eight-member committee, an official release issued on Friday stated that while two members were in favour of allowing tapping, six were against any such move for the time being.
As there was no unanimity among the members of the committee on socio-economic problems of the workers, the government had decided that the Chief Secretary and other officials concerned would examine the recommendations of the committee and suggest further course of action to the government.
The committee submitted its report to the government on July 1. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi held a meeting on the report with the Principal Secretaries for Finance and Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi, K. Shanmugam and R. Rajagopal. The panel's report contained only the experiences of Kerala.
However, it was felt by the government that the experiences of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka should also be studied. On collecting data from different sources, the government had to consider what type of welfare measures could be followed for the workers; socio-economic impact of allowing the toddy tapping and alternative methods for safeguarding the workers' interests, the release added.
Urgent meeting
Special Correspondent from Coimbatore adds:
Consequent to the announcement of the government's decision, the Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement, which had been urging the government to permit toddy tapping again, held an urgent meeting and expressed disappointment over the move.
Field Co-ordinator of the Movement S. Nallasamy called upon the government to revoke the ban immediately instead of waiting for the findings of the Chief Secretary.
He contended that during the public hearings of the Sivasubramanian Committee in different places including Madurai and Salem, a majority of the people had voiced their opinion in favour of toddy. In the event of the government failing to concede the demand of the farmers, the movement would be constrained to take the agitation to the next level, he added.
