socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector
socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector
socio-economic profile of rubber tappers in the small holding sector
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<strong>in</strong> demand for <strong>tappers</strong>. The participation <strong>of</strong> women <strong>in</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g seemed to be very low. The<br />
study area, which covers four wards <strong>of</strong> Kanjirappally panchayath, consists <strong>of</strong> only 15<br />
women <strong>tappers</strong> where <strong>the</strong> total number <strong>of</strong> <strong>tappers</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area goes beyond 200.<br />
All <strong>the</strong> women <strong>tappers</strong> are above 40 years <strong>of</strong> age and married. It shows <strong>the</strong><br />
approach <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> society to <strong>the</strong> job <strong>of</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g. Social customs and strong traditions force<br />
unmarried women not to participate <strong>in</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g . People believe that persons <strong>of</strong> low status,<br />
especially <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> women <strong>tappers</strong>, carry out tapp<strong>in</strong>g. So women <strong>tappers</strong> do not<br />
enjoy any pleasure <strong>of</strong> work. Actually <strong>the</strong>y enter <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g only when it is<br />
<strong>in</strong>dispensable for keep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> standard <strong>of</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family even at <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>imum level.<br />
In 3 households <strong>the</strong> husband is a patient or physically so weak that he cannot undertake<br />
any work.<br />
Achamma is a housewife <strong>of</strong> 50 years old. Husband is 20 years older than her and is<br />
a mental patient. They have got a son and three daughters. The son who is a tailor is<br />
married. But he is unable to contribute a notable amount to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>come <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family<br />
because he is an asthma patient. Daughters are school go<strong>in</strong>g students. So she is forced to<br />
undertake <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> family.<br />
Out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total sample women <strong>tappers</strong>, 10 belong to scheduled caste or Christian<br />
converts from scheduled castes; two Roman Catholics, one Muslim and two Ezhavas. The<br />
higher participation <strong>of</strong> scheduled caste people is due to <strong>the</strong>ir lower level <strong>of</strong> family<br />
<strong>in</strong>come, low educational standard, and consequent difficulty <strong>in</strong> gett<strong>in</strong>g alternative<br />
occupations.<br />
Bhageerathy Amma is a tapper <strong>of</strong> 50 years old. She has got a husband and a son.<br />
They live <strong>in</strong> a scheduled caste colony. The ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> her <strong>small</strong> house is made up <strong>of</strong> tiles. It<br />
is not electrified. The residential facilities are very poor. Years ago her husband lost one
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