The Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) has come out against the composition of the expert committee constituted by the Union Government to formulate the ‘national rubber policy’.
The Association alleged that natural rubber growers have been ignored and relegated to a position of non-importance in the committee. The APK urged the Centre to include the natural rubber growers and more representatives from Kerala in the expert committee.
In a statement issued here, they pointed out that the planters’ association which is a major stakeholder in the rubber industry has been excluded from the panel formed by the Union Ministry for Commerce and Industry. “Kerala, which is number one in production, is given only one representative. The glaring anomaly in the composition of this expert committee is that the rubber consuming industry is represented through various trade organisations whereas Kerala Gov and the trade organisations, which represent more than a million rubber growers who depend on the production of natural rubber for their livelihood, are left out,” the statement said.