Kerala to train rubber tappers from other states

KOTTAYAM (Commodity Online) : In order to address shortage of tappers, the Rubber Board in India has launched a new scheme to introduce labourers from other states on a large scale, to plantations in Kerala.
In this regard, the state level inauguration of the training programme for non-Keralite tappers was held at Pampady in Kotayam.
“Shortage of tappers is the most important problem facing the rubber plantation sector in Kerala”, said V.J. Kurian, Chairman, Rubber Board in a message.
Selected workers from Kerala and other states would be given intensive training in the Board’s Tapping Schools in Kerala. Workers from other states having valid Electoral Identity Card would be brought to Kerala, after obtaining necessary clearance from the police and medical authorities concerned.
After successfully completing the training, their service would be allotted to holdings which are already identified. The whole programme would be implemented with the involvement of Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPSs) and the Tapper Banks under their control, said the Chairman.
The tappers training programme was inaugurated by the former vice chairman of the Board, Adv. Siby J Monippally, General Secretary, Indian Rubber Growers’ Association. The tapper banks formed through this scheme was expected to foster good labour relations and would lead to inclusive growth in the sector, he said.
Under the new scheme, the Board will meet the entire expenses of the trainees for their journey from native place to Kerala and will also provide an allowance of `150 a day for each trainee, for food and incidental expenses.
The trainees in batches of 20 will be given 30 days intensive training. Each trainee will be given Rs.150 every day as stipend and their accommodation will be arranged in the Board’s Tapping Schools.
Training for the first batch, brought from Orissa State, will commence from 31 January 2011 at Tappers Training School at Kothala, Kottayam. A total of 280 workers will be trained in the Board’s seven tapping schools. Board proposes to make available the service of trained tappers to the RPSs by the commencement of the next tapping season.

(Source: http://www.commodityonline.com/news/Kerala-to-train-rubber-tappers-from-other-states-36089-3-1.html)