ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 • At present there is only scarcity of skilled tappers. But the trend shows that in the future the scarcity of tappers, whether skilled or unskilled will becomes chronic as the younger generations do not depend on tapping for their livelihood. • Social customs and traditions force not to engage in tapping. This is due to their lower family income, low educational standard and difficulty in getting other opportunities. • The rubber tappers should adopt the latest scientific methods in rubber latex collection recommended by the Rubber Board. • Above all the rubber estate owners should provide free medical, educational, accidental and all kinds of risk, aids to rubber tappers throughout the year for the welfare of these workers. • Tapping labourers of smallholdings will come under Minimum Wages Act. The average wage rate paid in the study area is not different from that fixed under the Minimum Wage Act. But incentive as over kilo rate for latex prescribed by the Act is unknown to the study area. • Majority of tappers belong to the age group 40 years and more. They are not averse to tapping. But it is very difficult to train them in scientific methods of tapping because of their inflexibility out of overage, personal bondage with growers and their belief that they are 'masters of tapping'. On the contrary, the younger generation is averse to tapping which is reflected by very low percentage of tappers below the age of 30 years. Hence proper steps should be taken by the Rubber Board to involve the younger people in Rubber tapping. • Tapping is considered a job of low social status, especially in the case of younger generation. So they are always trying to get out of the work on the earliest opportunity. Only due to the absence of suitable job opportunities they continue. But the long engagements in tapping, ignorance of other fields, lack of physical abilities etc. of the elderly tappers make them unsuitable for other opportunities 6.3 (C) Suggestion related to women tappers • In smallholdings of rubber the participation of women in tapping labour is very low. Along with the nature of crop, economic backwardness of family, social factors, the approach of rural households to tapping job, the wage rate etc. are also to be considered as determinants of demand and supply conditions of women tappers. • Male domination in tapping is obvious it is clear that the need for employing females arises under a condition of shortage of male labour as a result of their out migration and increase in demand for tappers. The participation of women in tapping seemed to be very low. • All the women tappers are above 40 years of age and married. It shows the approach of the society to the job of tapping. Social customs and strong traditions force unmarried women 165
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