Tamil Nadu man beats palm climber shortage with unique spiral iron staircase

/Mangalore Today News Network

Thoothukudi, Jul 8, 2026: A 35-year-old man from Tamil Nadu has drawn widespread attention after building a customised spiral iron staircase around a palm tree, offering an innovative solution to the shortage of skilled palm climbers.

Dinakaraj, a resident of Salaiputhur village near Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district, comes from a family that has been engaged in the palm industry for generations.

Spiral Staircase

With the traditional palm sector facing a severe shortage of experienced climbers, Dinakaraj invested ₹60,000 to construct a spiral iron staircase around a 55-foot-tall palmyra tree near his home. Designed like a residential spiral staircase, the structure allows people to climb the tree safely and with ease.

His unique innovation has impressed locals and attracted widespread praise for its practicality.

Explaining the idea, Dinakaraj said the staircase enables anyone—including children and women—to climb to the top of the palm tree without fear and extract "padaneer" (sweet palm sap) safely.

He hopes the innovation will help address the growing shortage of traditional palm climbers while reducing the dependence of tree owners on external labour.

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