The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Toddy movement plans protest

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Friday, Feb 13, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Toddy movement plans protest

Staff Reporter

KARUR: Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement has planned to stage a novel protest of tearing copies of the Prohibition (Enforcement) Act to show their anger at the discrimination being meted out to toddy tappers, according to coordinator S. Nallasamy.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, Mr. Nallasamy pointed out that the State Government had amended the Act in 1971, 1975, 1987 and 2003against the interests of toddy tappers and coconut and palm farmers.

Gradually, the Act has come to help IMFL manufacturers a great deal.

As per a decision of the Movement, toddy was being tapped in coconut and palm groves across the State and being sold there itself since January 21.

The State Government was turning a blind eye to the development, he said.

Toddy sale

The tappers were selling toddy at the rate of Rs. 30 per 650 ml, Mr. Nallasamy said. Since toddy has been banned in Tamil Nadu for the past 21 years, tappers have had little practice and were encountering teething troubles, he said. Mr. Nallasamy said that the Movement would continue its struggle till toddy was removed from the list of alcoholic drinks.

Meet in Madurai

The Movement’s struggle committee would meet in Madurai on February 23 to discuss the protest.

The Movement’s consultative committee would meet in Erode on March 1 to deliberate on follow-up moves, Mr. Nallasamy said.

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