In early days the entire low- lying areas in Ramankari village were submerged underwater throughout the whole year. During the period of reclamation ring bunds have been erected around specified plots and converted the
areas within the bunds into padasekharams. The method of erecting bunds to facilitate
paddy farming is known as varambukuthi krishi. Early bunds in the study area are made of mud taken from the fields itself. In order to strengthen the bunds bottom part of the stalk of paddy left in
the fields after harvesting (chuvattukachi) had been used. Due to floods and the incessant wave action ring bunds used to get damaged in non-cropping seasons. The task of the erection and repair of ring bunds had been entrusted to low caste agrestic slaves. Usually the repair works of ring bunds began after Onam. At present some of the padasekharams in the study area have permanent outer bunds strengthened with granite and the risk of breach in bunds and the resultant crop failure have been substantially reduced. Annual maintenance works of bunds are carried out by casual labourers under the supervision of padasekharam committees. Individual farmers on the basis of the proportion of area they cultivate share the cost of the work.
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