This is a report that was published in the Hindu Newspaper of 16^th February, 2008

“Women try their hand in coconut climbing”

Malappuram: Acute shortage of men to climb coconut trees has forced the Agriculture Department in Kerala to woo women to enter the profession. 

      A training for women in coconut tree climbing was organized by the Krishi Bhavan under the Agriculture Department at Vattakulam village here. 

    “The response from women of all communities in the village has been quite encouraging”, Agricultural Officer Abdul Jabbar said. 

       Twenty women participated in the programme and one among them,25 year old Rabia, conquered the tallest coconut tree in the area in just five minutes on Wednesday. Initially, women were shy to come forward. But finally one of them showed the guts to try her hand at  the job”

        Climbing trees was never considered  lady-like behaviour for a girl and “maram keri”(she who climbs trees) was not a complimentary epithet. See how the times have changed.  

         And it is more remarkable that this is happening in Mallappuram District in Kerala,  which has a predominantly muslim population. I wonder how the Taliban would have reacted to this development.    

       What’s your take on this  folks?  My comments (tongue in cheek) would be: “Didn’t they always say that if you keep aiming for the stars, you will reach the tree top?” J