ISBN: - 978-93-88936-09-5 day. The total area of Kanyakumari district is 1684 sq. Km i.e 650024 sq. Miles (168356216) ha. out of this, an extent of 48423 ha. was discovered by forests. Most of the forests in the district are in the catchment areas of numerous streams and rivers. The forests ranging from an altitude of 200 to 600 m occur in Keeriparai, Mangolamottai (Lower Kodayar) Maruthaparai beat of Kulasekharam, Ulakkaruvi near Alagiyapandipuram range Kuttiyar region of Petchiparai. Some areas have been cleared in this region for rubber plantation by the Forest Department. In the Thovalai taluk, 1038 hectares of area are under the cultivation of rubber. In Kalkulam taluk there are 2161 rubber units and the total area of rubber cultivation is 5338 hectares. In the Vilvancode taluk there exists 1468 rubber units and they are under rubber cultivation is 4931 hectares. The total number of rubber units in this district is 3668 and the total area under rubber cultivations is 11307 hectares. In Kanyakumari district contributes nearly 95 per cent of national rubber production of Tamil Nadu. The area under rubber cultivation is steadily increasing when compared to other major crops like paddy, banana, and tropica. Area under rubber cultivation has increased from 16132 hectares in 1985-86 to 16985 hectares in 1994-95. The rubber production has also gone up from 11000 tonnes in 1985-86 to 15000 tonnes in 1994-95. In June 1960, the government initiated a scheme in the Keeripparai reserve forest area and brought about 2,000 acres under rubber plantations were under private enterprise. In 1980, Kanyakumari district alone 12,688 hectares were under rubber plantation as against 12,716 hectares in the whole of Tamil Nadu. In 1980-81, 4, 39,566 rubber trees were tapped employing 3,000 persons; annual yield per tree was 5.35 kg. In 1986, the area under rubber plantations further rose to 12,168 hectares in all i.e. government as well as private, employing about 50,000 persons. Rubber plantations were widespread along the Western Ghats in Vilavancode, Kalkulam and ThovalaiTaluks and to be specific in Keeripparai, Manalodai, Chittar, Mylar and Kallar areas. In 1986 the area under Rubber plantations had further raised up to 12168 hectares in government as well as private which constitutes about 97percentage of the total area covered under plantations in the state of Tamil Nadu. In these plantations alone about 50000 people are employed. There are three factories to process the field latex into different grades of natural rubber. These factories are located at Keeriparai, Perunchani and Mylar. The number of persons employed in the Rubber Factory at Keeriparai is 103 and rubber factory at Perunchani is only 42. The total strength of labour force is in Rubber Corporation consisting of tappers, field workers, protective workers, factory workers, and casual workers. Preference is given to Kanis (hills tribes) in the recruitment of workers. Daily wages are paid to the labourers at rates varying according to their grades. Tapping are paid over kilo wages for collection of latex and scrap at the rate of 65 paise per kg and 30, paisa per kg. respectively more than the standard output. 82
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