New integrated textile policy soon: CM

Without delving much into details, Palaniswami observed that the policy would be in tune with the initiatives launched by former late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and enhance the livelihood of weavers. Weaving comes only next to agriculture in terms of providing employment, he said.

He said the National Handloom Day will allow manufacturing of handloom products of international quality for global markets.

Reeling out the list of welfare measures offered by the State, Palaniswamy said the State was patronising weavers by purchasing sarees and dhotis meant for free distribution and the scheme is to be extended to 3.36 lakh beneficiaries in view of Pongal celebrations next year.

“This initiative alone would bring employment to 11,000 handloom weavers and 54,000 powerloom workers.

We have increased the free power supply to handloom workers to 200 units for two months from 100 units for the same period. Such measures helped 964 of 1156 handloom weavers’ cooperatives make profits”, the CM said.

“Co-optex which acts as a nodal agency for executing free sarees, dhotis schemes helped all beneficiaries across social spectrum. Co-optex deserves a commendation for expanding its service horizon from State to the public in the AIADMK regime”, Palaniswami noted.

The annual allocation for discount rebate has been enhanced by Rs 100 crore this year and a total of 867 handloom weavers’ societies will benefit from this initiative, he said.