Changing taste of women and men, who wear churidaars and pants instead of traditional sarees and dhotis, is posing a challenge to Tamil Nadu’s handloom sector, State handlooms and Textiles Minister OS Manian told the legislative assembly recently. He highlighted State schemes to aid weavers like a Rs. 40 cr support plan and a rebate subsidy scheme.
The Cost Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme ensured continuous employment to 14,000 handloom and 54,000 power loom weavers, besides fulfilling the clothing needs of approximately 3 cr people in both rural and urban areas, he said. For free dhoti and saree distribution for Pongal next year, Rs. 490.20 cr has been allocated, he pointed out.
Under the scheme to supply free uniforms to school students, Rs. 279 cr worth such clothing material was produced by weaver cooperative societies in the last academic year and supplied to government for distribution to school children. Rs. 327.44 cr has been earmarked for the uniform distribution plan this year. In 2018-19, against the target of 15,000, 22,650 loan applications were cleared and Rs. 112.37 cr disbursed, he added.
