Success Story of Rubber Tapping Unit from Kayyur Chiemeni

Tapping rubber and earning income:  Success Story of  Rubber Tapping Unit from Kayyur Chiemeni

The migration of Christian community from Central Travancore to Malabar regions had rewritten the landscapes of Kasargod hills into layered slopes for cultivation of rubber. Kasargod had seen a dramatic shift of its cultivation identity changing into that of plantations, both cashew nuts and rubber. The story, Kayyur Chiemeni tells about the ladies’ task force skilled in rubber tapping pitching on Kudumbashree principles of Local Economic Development, Capability enhancement and empowerment.

Rubber Tapping Unit, Kayyur Chiemeni is a special labour task force of 15 determined Kudumbashree women skilled in rubber tapping and sheet processing. Extensiveness of rubber cultivation automatically generated demand of skilled labour and large skills gaps that increased the cost of production. To bridge this skill gap of rubber tappers, it was rubber board that came up with a training program for skilling in rubber tapping. Kudumbashree would identify potential beneficiaries and rubber board would train, the program was designed as such. 
The story of identification of beneficiary was some fun, CDS chairperson recollects. “The rubber board needed 15 participants; the information was shared across all NHGs. More than 30 enrolled for training, but only 10 turned up. Most of them dropped even before start of the training since it was a 1-month training at an authorised plantation at one end of the panchayath. But within a short period, with the help of my committee I was able to mobilise the remaining five and it literally saved my day.”

The 15-member batch completed the training without a drop out or absence, for the entire one month with classes of duration from 9 to 5 pm. “The training is what brought us close, we remember each and every day of training and it was very difficult for us to part after the training. We held arms, hugged each other and cried a lot at the end of the training”, the president of the group says.
The training was facilitated with daily stipend of Rs.110 and travel allowance. On the successful completion of the training, the trainees were given uniform, tapping knifes and the training had an exposure visit. After the training, with the efforts of the CDS, District Mission and Panchayath, the special task force of rubber tapping was registered and became functional in 2017. Out of the 15 members, 9 tap their own trees of their homestead. Only 7, take up outside works alongside their own tapping. Out of the 15 members, 3 belong to SAFALAM Cashew unit of Chiemeni. The cost charged by special task force for rubber tapping and sheeting is Rs.2 per tree tapped. At first, they were only able to tap 50 trees in morning. In due course, the capacity increased and they testified they could tap a minimum of 150 trees a day as of now.

 “All of us have rubber cultivation in our home, earlier it was the husband who does the tapping and we were engaged in daily household works. Most of us were homemakers and was not evidently contributing to family. When we came to know about this training, we had no second thoughts and I was always eager to learn new skills” says the eldest of the 15-member group. “Rubber tapping is an easy task that could be done by women, these days we can see a woman driving buses and flights but rubber tapping is comparatively easy task”.  “Work of 3-4 hours in the early morning hours never disrupts our daily households’ activities and I can even come to SAFALAM Cashew unit at 10 am after earning a minimum of 200”. “Rubber tapping is the area where there is no gender bias and equal pay for equal job exists”. “We knew that by learning this skill, we never have to sit idle since there is great demand for who can tap, we could help our husbands by sharing their duty and being able to earn for the family was the highlight”. “At first, I was little frightened to go out that early from home, but later I knew it was only a peripheral fear and there is no problem”. The reasons were flowing in and confidence level was pumping up. 
 They believe that they succeeded because they are a team. It was hard for them to part their ways after the training as they had become thick friends. Even now, they gather as a group every month, get together, do some thrift and help out each other says the Treasurer. “And we knew we were in need of this skill right from the start and we would utilise these skills for our good; we needed this and our CDS facilitated our requirement” adds another member.
 Theirs’s was relatively a new unit, started in 2017. There hasn’t been any significant revolution since they formed this activity group. They believe that that itself is the turning point in their business.

 Getting approval from their homes to attend this one month training itself was a challenge says a member with a smile. “We had to overcome our fear, gain confidence and be sure about our skill, but now thinking back those were not even challenges”. “We expect more motivating challenges on our way”. She says.
 The intend to strengthen their groups’ dynamics; they understand that there is high significance for the strength of the group. Together they aim that they grow together. They intend to take up tapping contract of Plantation Corporation and large plantation owned by private parties. They believe we can grow from being labourers to labour contractors in rubber tapping. Training days were the glory days for them, they cherish each and every day. They enjoyed like they were school students.
 “Don’t hesitate; probe every option to support your family. If determined, there’s no task difficult for women and if we are with a group, our strength multiplies. Identify opportunities through CDS, learn and grow. This is their message to the aspiring women. By extending opportunities to many women like the entrepreneurs of this rubber tapping unit of Kayyur Chiemeni, Kudumbashree Mission is giving wings to the dreams of many.