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Rehabilitation Plantations Limited or RPL, as it is popularly known is a Joint Venture of Government of India and Government of Kerala, set up in 1972 with the noble objective of rehabilitating the repatriates from Sri Lanka.
The Shastri-Sirimao Agreement in 1964 necessitated the repatriation of about six lakhs of people of Indian origin from Sri Lanka. Plantation Scheme, being labour intensive, is one of the most successful schemes implemented by the Government of India to rehabilitate the repatriates.
The Rubber Plantation Scheme for resettlement has its beginning in Kerala with the Kerala Forest Department. The Kerala Forest Department raised its first plantation in Ayiranallur Estate during 1972 and in Kulathupuzha Estate during 1973. In order to mobilize additional finance by way of institutional finance and to relieve the strain on the exchequer, the Rubber Plantation Scheme of Kerala Forest Department was converted into a limited company ‘REHABILITATION PLANTATIONS LIMITED’ on 5th May 1976. The authorized capital of the company Rs. 350 lakhs and the paid-up capital as on date stood at Rs.339.27 lakhs. The reserve and surplus accumulated up to 31st March 2009 amounted to Rs.8252 lakhs.
Rehabilitation Plantations Limited achieved the target of resettlement of 675 repatriate families of Indian origin from Sri Lanka during March 1983 and another 25 families were absorbed in 1990. The company provides permanent employment to two eligible members of each resettled repatriate family and the total number of workers now employed by the company is about 1,300.
Spread over approx. 2070 hectares of land, the company’s plantations in Ayiranallur and Kulathupuzha in Kollam district are rated to be among the best in India.
RPL is India’s first plantation Company to get ISO Certification for Quality and Environment Management Systems.
Over the years RPL, has built up a market strategy enabling it to become a market leader in the sale of 60% centrifuged latex with BIS standard. At present, the company sells about 15,000 barrels of centrifuged latex of high quality per annum.
Value addition to the plantations of RPL is carried out at the latex centrifuging factory at Kulathupuzha established in 1984. Presently, there are four centrifuging machines having a daily production capacity of 12MT.
RPL marched ahead in August 1990 in its endeavour to make maximum utilization of the resources available by establishing at 6 tpd Crumb Rubber factory at Kulathupuzha in consultation with the Rubber Board. This Factory produces all grades of Crumb Rubber like 3 L, 5 L, 5, 10, 20 and 50. The annual capacity of thye factory is 1800 MT. During 2008-09, a major modernization scheme of this factory was completed, thus paving the way for saving energy, bringing down the use of fossil fuel and contributing towards a cooler earth.
Till recently, RPL has been using only its captive crop of natural rubber latex for processing. In order to diversify its activities, RPL has also started purchasing latex from outside sources.
RPL is in a position to supply low ammoniated latex (LATZ) aimed at speciality markets. Sales also include various forms of dry rubber like Crepe, Skim and Pit. With an aggressive and reliable marketing wing, RPL has now got customers country-wide and their list includes small and big industrial units, some of them like Hindustan Latex Limited having the most stringent quality specification for the procurement of raw-materials in the country. A full-fledged laboratory with imported testing equipments ensures the quality of RPL’s products. RPL has also authorized agents for sale at strategic locations spread all over the country. Today, RPL has status of one of the top natural rubber producers in India and the RPL brand has become synonymous with quality and reliability in the market.
The Rubber Sheeting Factory of the Company is producing footwear quality sheeting’s of thickness from 1.5 to 10 mm and mottled sheeting’s. Export quality sheeting’s are also manufactured in this factory.
The replanting activities of the Company have commenced during 2001 in both the estates as per schedule. The Company has so far successfully completed replanting in 1161 Ha. The planted seedlings are healthy and robust.