MARGAO
The All Goa Toddy Tappers Association has said Goa’s famous Coconut feni, along with Coconut jaggery and vinegar will receive international status once the feni, jaggery and vinegar get the GI tag.
Association President Francis Fernandes has further informed that the Goa Welfare Board has accepted the proposal from the All Goa Toddy Tappers Association for enhancing the monetary relief to toddy tappers who died due to a fall.
Addressing the media after celebrating the annual Litany on the occasion of the novenas of St Francis Xavier on Friday, Francis informed that the Welfare Board has accepted the proposal of the Association to enhance the relief from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh in the event of death due to the fall of a toddy tapper.
He further informed that Chairman of the Welfare Board has also agreed to hike the compensation for the injured toddy tappers from Rs 250 to Rs 625.
As far as natural death is concerned, he said the Board has accepted to give an amount of Rs 25,000 to the kith and kin of the toddy tapper.
He said the Chairman of the Welfare Board has also accepted the suggestion made by the Association that the Agriculture Department’s scheme for coconut plucker will be extended for the toddy tappers.
Saying the ongoing process to accord GI tag for Coconut feni, jaggery and vinegar is progressing in the right direction, Francis exuded confidence that these authentic products will get international recognitions post-GI tag.
