KOTTAYAM, INDIA – The rubber sector in Kerala is facing an acute labour shortage. To counter this, several programmes have been launched by the Rubber Board of India; among these are the free training schools for tappers and the Tapper Banks in Rubber Producers’ Societies.
Led by its Chair, Sheela Thomas, the Rubber Board hashes a database of rubber tappers, aiming at a more active involvement of the local tappers in the training programmes and labour welfare schemes.
This is a collaborative programme of the Rubber Production Department of the Rubber Board and the Economic Research Division of the Rubber Research Institute of India.
Tappers can enlist their names and details via the Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPS) and Field Stations of the Rubber Board.
The data collection is expected t0 be completed within one year. The Board is preparing incentives and welfare packages for Tapper Bank members ( those who are enlisted in the database).
Rubber is planted in nearly 5.5 lakh has in Kerala; more than 4 lakh has of which are in the yielding phase. Nearly 2.5 lakh tappers are engaged in these plantations.