Kerala to bring rubber tappers from other States

KOCHI ( Commodity Online) : Rubber Board of Kerala—the official patron of rubber industry in the State of Kerala in India—has decided to give training in rubber tapping to workers from other parts of the country as the rubber industry here is facing a manpower shortage of domestic tappers.
The training facility at Kottayam is on a move to commence operations from January 31, 2011 by giving training to the first batch workers from Orissa, another state in India. The pay and perks are attractive and travel allowances and daily allowances form a part of the pay packet.
Rs.150 (approx. $4) would be paid to the trainees on account of food and incidental expenses. Currently the board runs seven tapping schools and can train 280 people in two batches.
The State of Kerala accounts for 92% of India’s rubber plantations, thanks to its tropical climate fostering cash-crop rubber and thereby the economy of the State.
The crop is a favourite among Kerala’s farmers, especially in Central Kerala.
Kerala, whose social demographics is on a par with many developed countries, has been facing acute shortage in physically exhaustive trades like rubber tapping and coconut tree climbing.
The educated youth in Kerala is unwilling to take up tapping trade owing to the calling from attractive white collar jobs as well as due to the physical exhaustion that comes with tapping job.
The workers to be brought will be allowed in only after various security clearances. Once they complete training, they will be dispatched to appointed rubber holdings.