Farmers’ associations seek lifting of toddy ban in Tamil Nadu

Farmers’ associations have called for lifting the ban on toddy tapping in Tamil Nadu, contending that it is a health drink. “We want Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and his government to lift the ban, which would create jobs and help many families. The product can also be exported,” said C. Nallasamy, coordinator, Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement.

Various farmers’ associations have been pressing this demand to bring some respite to thousands of toddy tappers, whose livelihood depends on this. “Mostly places such as Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, and Kanniyakumari have palmyrahs. Since they help anchor groundwater, they are planted along ponds and farmlands. No other State has banned toddy,” he said. The movement has been regularly petitioning governments and Chief Ministers, but to no avail. “I remember an incident when a former Chief Minister had promised to lift the ban and had invited us to a conference. But ultimately, there was no announcement, and we went back dejected. We have been at this for over 35 years now and hope there will be some relief,” Mr. Nallasamy said.

E. Devarajulu, Chennai zone coordinator of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Paadhugappu Sangam, said that when the government ran Tasmac shops and procured Indian Made Foreign Liquor for sale at these outlets, it might as well run shops selling toddy. It will earn some revenue from that. “Toddy is a natural drink, does not have much alcohol content and has plenty of vitamins. Judges have asked if the State government had planned to lift the ban. Even recently, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court sought to know if a framework for tapping, production, and sale of toddy could be devised in the State.”