Toddy Board edging closer to reality

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The file to establish Toddy Board under the Excise Department will be settled in a week. The file is currently in the G Section of the Tax Department Though the Legislative Assembly had already passed the bill, the announcement got delayed because the amendments were not made. The change in portfolios of Ministers also added to the delay.

The amendments can be made only after the Excise Minister takes a final decision about the labourers in the toddy industry.

The inspection of the file did not happen amidst the resignation of MV Govindan as the Excise Minister to become the CPI(M) State Secretary and the induction of former Speaker MB Rajesh as the new Minister for Excise. The Joint Secretary of the Tax Department has been made the Chief Operating Officer to make the regulations for the establishment of the Toddy Board.

The change of Ministers came when his report was in the process of examination.

The first Pinarayi Government decided to establish the Toddy Board for the comprehensive development of the toddy industry. The contracts for the toddy shop contractors for the year 2022-23 was renewed as the Board did not materialize on time.

There will be 21 board members including the representative of the Tax Department and the Excise Commissioner. The decision to include the representatives of the trade unions must be taken by the Minister.

The aims of the Toddy Board is to give pure toddy, make value added products, spread coconut trees with high yield and make toddy shops better. There are 5200 toddy shops out of which 4600 are working. 34,000 people are working in toddy shops and 2,400 with welfare board.