Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation demands lifting ban on toddy
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation in a press release demanded lifting ban on toddy.
In a press release it said, toddy has been banned in Tamil Nadu since 01.01.1987(for 33 years) and as a result, the livelihood of the toddy brewers has been severely affected and many movements and organizations are constantly fighting for this. They said that in the neighboring states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Pondicherry, the industry is doing well without any hindrance till date and toddy is considered to be a healthy drink.
The Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation in a press release said the following demands should be implemented with livelihood and health of people in mind.
1) Retired Judge KP Sivasubramaniam, who conducted the 2009 review of the ban on Tamil Nadu, should immediately publish his panel report. The Government of Tamil Nadu should follow the global practice and lift the ban on toddy as per the guidelines given in Section 47 of the Constitution of India.
2) In many places the youth are not interested in toddy making as they are forced to regularly provide bribes to the police. The police are trying oppress them by registering false cases of 'poisonous toddy' against workers. From now on, the case should be registered and action should be taken only under the relevant sections as per the legal guidance.
3) In many districts, in order to disable the livelihood of the palm workers, the workers who brew toddy are brought to the police station for investigation and are subjected to harassment. The police are destroying the toddy brewing set-up and no longer be involved in such activities
4) The signature drive to lift the ban has been started and 2 lakh signatures have been received across Tamil Nadu. The tour, which took place in several districts, has the support of the public and youth.
5) The party that promises to lift the ban on the upcoming 2021 assembly elections will have the palm, coconut workers and their family members' votes. This will determine the chances of victory in many constituencies. If it is the ruling government, the ban should be lifted immediately and in case of opposition, notice should be issued in the election manifesto regarding the lifting of the ban.
6) The government has not yet responded to the series of demands of more than 15 years of labor workers. The Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation has stepped in in an attempt to change that situation and mobilize the people to lift the ban.
In a press release it said, toddy has been banned in Tamil Nadu since 01.01.1987(for 33 years) and as a result, the livelihood of the toddy brewers has been severely affected and many movements and organizations are constantly fighting for this. They said that in the neighboring states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Pondicherry, the industry is doing well without any hindrance till date and toddy is considered to be a healthy drink.
The Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation in a press release said the following demands should be implemented with livelihood and health of people in mind.
1) Retired Judge KP Sivasubramaniam, who conducted the 2009 review of the ban on Tamil Nadu, should immediately publish his panel report. The Government of Tamil Nadu should follow the global practice and lift the ban on toddy as per the guidelines given in Section 47 of the Constitution of India.
2) In many places the youth are not interested in toddy making as they are forced to regularly provide bribes to the police. The police are trying oppress them by registering false cases of 'poisonous toddy' against workers. From now on, the case should be registered and action should be taken only under the relevant sections as per the legal guidance.
3) In many districts, in order to disable the livelihood of the palm workers, the workers who brew toddy are brought to the police station for investigation and are subjected to harassment. The police are destroying the toddy brewing set-up and no longer be involved in such activities
4) The signature drive to lift the ban has been started and 2 lakh signatures have been received across Tamil Nadu. The tour, which took place in several districts, has the support of the public and youth.
5) The party that promises to lift the ban on the upcoming 2021 assembly elections will have the palm, coconut workers and their family members' votes. This will determine the chances of victory in many constituencies. If it is the ruling government, the ban should be lifted immediately and in case of opposition, notice should be issued in the election manifesto regarding the lifting of the ban.
6) The government has not yet responded to the series of demands of more than 15 years of labor workers. The Tamil Nadu Toddy Federation has stepped in in an attempt to change that situation and mobilize the people to lift the ban.