Powered by sheer self-confidence, a local woman has embarked upon the unusual task of plucking nuts from coconut trees, so far a male bastion. Sharmila, 37, can swiftly pluck nuts by climbing steep coconut trees of any height, providing much needed relief to people staying nearby, as the youth are increasingly distancing themselves from the traditional job.

Kerala, the land of 'keras' (coconuts), is facing an acute shortage of the skilled labourers.

A resident of Pallikkara panchayat in neighbouring Kasaragod district, the woman, working as a part-time government servant, utilises her spare time to pluck coconuts, using a manually operated gadget.

She climbs up around 10 to 15 coconut trees a day, charging Rs 10 per a tree as she finds extra income to meet mounting expenses.

"As I started taking up the unusual job, my neighbours and people nearby stared at me in disbelief and awe, wondering whether a woman can and should take up the highly risky job. But today I am a much sought after person as I promptly oblige their urgent calls to pluck coconuts from tiny holdings," Sharmila said.

"My decision to take up the rare but unfamiliar job for a woman came after my husband's desperate plea to some casual workers to pluck coconuts from the newly purchased 10 cents of land on the eve of house warming ceremony of our new house went unheard," she said.

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