Socio – Economic Profile of Coir Workers in Kerala – A Case Study of Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha District
Abstract
Coir is a product of the coconut tree, cocosnucifera, and it is sometimes known as coco fiber. Coir fiber is relatively water-proof and is one of the few natural fibers resistant to damage by salt water. The history of coir industry in the world shows that the origin of modern coir industry was in England. The golden textured Indian coir fiber that Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Goa produce captured the European and world markets from then on, there was the success of Indian coir’s reign, and it had no turning back. The big corporate soon established coir factories in Alleppey, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kochi and other parts of Kerala Coir industry is one of the most important traditional cottage industries in the south western coastal belt of India, with Kerala occupying the major position. The coir industry is agro- based, rural and export oriented. The economic importance of this traditional industry is significant in terms of income, employment and foreign exchange. This traditional cottage craft provides, in Kerala, Employment to 2.13 lakhs families and approximately 4 lakhs people. In Kerala people, the coir industry is the second largest single source of non – agriculture employment for the rural poor. Alleppey is the nerve center of Kerala’s famous coir industry. This paper addresses the social and economic profile of coir workers in kerala based on the survey conducted in Cherthala taluk in Alappuzha district.
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