KOOTHUPARAMBA: Sheeja first climbed the coconut tree at the age of 32 while her husband Jayakumar and children witnessed it anxiously. Now, she has become an expert and is perhaps the only woman toddy tapper in the state.

Sheeja, a native of Kannavam, did not take up this job for the sake of doing an adventurous work. It was her willpower and determination to fight the odds that helped her to take up the job while her family met with a disaster. Jayakumar, who is also a toddy tapper, met with an accident as his bike collided with another vehicle. Following this, he was unable to work for many months. And since the only income of the family got drained up, Sheeja decided to give it a try. Though Jayakumar dissuaded her initially, he later went on to teach her how to climb the coconut tree by giving instructions from below.

“In the beginning, I tried to learn by climbing small trees. Then slowly increased the height. Now, I climb 10 trees three times a day. I get around Rs 350 per day, if I work. If I can’t work, I won’t get any money,” said Sheeja.