Insurance policy covering kitul tappers amended:

Kitul tappers' future looks bright

The insurance policy covering kitul tappers has been amended from July 1. Kitul tappers now need not fear for the future, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

He was speaking at a ceremony to hand over the amended insurance policy, covering those engaged in tapping kitul palms and their trainers at the ministry.

Minister Devananda said the Co-operative Insurance Company Ltd had obtained an insurance policy covering those engaged in tapping kitul palm flowers and trainers of the kitul development national programme under the purview of the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry.

"Under this cover, if a kitul tapper or a trainer of the tappers is partially or permanently disabled, dies or is hospitalised due to an accident while engaged in kitul tapping, he will be entitled for compensation and in addition, a lump sum for funeral expenses," he said.

Devananda said the ministry resorted to this to encourage new comers to the industry. "A kitul tapper will be able to earn a monthly income between Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000. The President has allocated Rs 18 million to uplift the kitul industry," Devananda said.