Bantwal: Mega Convention to Tap Potential of Toddy Farming
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (RD/CN)
Bantwal, Sep 30: Toddy tappers in the district have something to cheer about. For long fighting the looming shadow of oblivion, they can finally look forward to some form of recognition for their hard work.
Toddy tapping once occupied a pride of place among the traditional occupations in the region. Scores of families from generation to generation have passed on the skills of tapping toddy from palm or coconut trees. However, with development and changes over the years, not to mention the advent of more lucrative occupations, the profession has been under the threat of fading away altogether.
What it needed in order to sustain was a shot in the arm, which seems to have been finally administered. One of the things that toddy tappers suffer from is a feeling of inferiority for lack of recognition given to them. Though toddy tapping still is quite a lucrative occupation, not many attach 'dignity' to it.
In an effort to change this attitide and bring toddy tappers to the mainstream, it has now been decided to hold a mega convention of toddy tappers at the taluk level and even set up Kalpataru Service Co-operative Society to work for the betterment of the community.
A decision to this effect was taken at the taluk-level toddy tappers meet held under the leadership of former ZP vice-president M Tungappa Bangera at Lions Seva Mandir, B C Road, on Thursday September 29.
M Tungappa Bangera said that convention aims to make the toddy tappers self-reliant and shed their inferiority complex. Bangera also called upon the community to be united in launching the co-operative society in order to avail state benefits.
Toddy Tappers Federation vice-president Shivappa Poojary, ZP member Chennappa R Kotian, TP member Ramesh Poojary Kudumeru, Shamboor Toddy Tappers Co-operative Society president Purushottam Salian, Ramdas Bantwal, Kamalaksha Poojary, Annu Poojary, Booba K, Harischandra Poojary, and Madhav K spoke on the occasion.
Dinesh Amin delivered the introductory address. Harish Poojary Kakya welcomed the gathering. Poovappa Poojary proposed the vote of thanks and Purushottam Poojary compered the programme.
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