The Hindu : Kerala / Kozhikode News : Coconut farmers' bid to tap `neera'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kozhikode

Coconut farmers' bid to tap `neera'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE, NOV. 23. Coconut farmers under the aegis of the Farmers Relief Forum are in the process of organising a series of State-level consultations with Gandhians and trade union representatives on the issue of legitimising their right to tap `neera' a non-alcoholic, non-intoxicant drink.

The Farmers' Relief Forum chairman, A.C.Varkey, who introduced the topic at a meeting held at Kozhikode on Monday, emphasised the objective of farmers to enforce their right to tap `neera' from coconut palms which belonged to them.

It was a right which was being denied them.

The Gandhians, M.A.John,Thayat Balan and T.V.Balan, participated in the meeting.

A meeting in this regard will be held in Thrissur in December which will be attended by V.M.Sudheeran and K.P.Rajendran, MP. This would be followed by a similar consultation in Alappuzha.

Special sanction

As of now while the right to tap `neera' is given to farmers under a special sanction by the Excise Commissioner. Though in principle the State Government has allowed tapping of `neera', farmers do not want any curbs that allows them the right of extracting the product only through a specific sanction. Such curbs meant that all farmers could not benefit.

The view that the prerogative to tap the palms is being controlled by the Government is being questioned by the farmers.

Another factor was the opposition raised by prohibitionists on the premise that such tapping would lead to increased alcoholism in the State.

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Coconut farmers' bid to tap `neera'