In The Name of the Government....Political Apathy of Welfare Schemes in Tamil Nadu
Climbing a 150 feet tall palm tree, without any machinery
aid is truly a challenging task for anyone. But, it is a daily routine for 30
years old Chinnappan, who is a palm wine (Padhaneer in Tamil) tapper by
profession. He climbs four trees in a day, to earn his livelihood, which is
about 600 feet up and down. No wonder,
this is considered to be one of the toughest jobs in the entire world.
Being a seasonal employment, palm wine tapping brings only a
meager income to his family. Hence, he has to seek another job during rest of
the months of the year, to run his family. After enforcing a ban on tapping
toddy, which is a fermented form of the sap, this business has lost its charm
and enthusiasm. Hence, to prevent the sap from fermentation, quicklime is
applied inside the mud pot that is fastened to the palm flower.
Though his counterparts in the neighboring states, extract
toddy without any problems, it is an illegal affair across the state of Tamil
Nadu. The reasons stated by the government for prohibition are not so
convincing, as it claims to destroy peoples’ lives.
Moreover, the palm sap is a natural drink, which also
contains certain medicinal properties. Some pollinating mammals consume
fermented nectar for their diet. Consuming fermented palm wine might have worse
ramifications; nevertheless the liquors sold by the state owned shops are
disastrous to the public in all ways.
The revenue generated by Tamil Nadu government by selling liquor
is over 23,000 crores during the year of 2013. Most of the drinks are
substandard in quality and priced at exorbitant rates.
The message is very clear that we have no rights to destroy ourselves, but they do.
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