Dozens of palm climbers and traditional toddy tappers protested at the Krishnagiri District Collectorate in Tamil Nadu, urging the government to lift the ban on toddy to protect their livelihoods. The protesters, part of the Salem Zone Coconut Palm Tree Climbers Welfare Association, submitted a formal petition to the district administration after staging a sit-in demonstration. They emphasized the importance of toddy tapping as a traditional occupation and cultural heritage.
Toddy has been prohibited in Tamil Nadu since 1987 under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act, impacting numerous palm-dependent workers who have faced financial instability. Families that have traditionally depended on palm trees have been adversely affected, with many falling into debt and some being compelled to abandon their ancestral profession. The association requested the government to reclassify toddy as a food product and remove it from the Prohibition Act, highlighting the nutritional value of fresh palm neera.
During the protest, a leader from the association asserted that toddy tapping is not a criminal activity but a traditional means of livelihood for them. They urged the government to acknowledge toddy tapping as a legitimate occupation and provide support instead of punitive measures. The workers also raised concerns about alleged police harassment, including warnings, questioning, and confiscation of tools, emphasizing that cases have been filed against climbers even for personal consumption of palm neera.
The association demanded that climbers engaged in toddy or neera extraction for personal use should not face criminal charges. They called for an end to police intimidation and the confiscation of their equipment. Officials at the collectorate received the petition and promised to forward the demands to the state government for review. For palm climbers, the lifting of the toddy ban is not just a policy change but a crucial step for the survival of rural families in Tamil Nadu.
