The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dhoti, saree distribution will be over by month-end

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dhoti, saree distribution will be over by month-end

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, JAN. 19. Distribution of free dhotis and sarees to landless agricultural labourers and urban and rural poor people living below the poverty line for the current year will be completed by January 31.

About 111.5 lakh dhotis and an equal number of sarees are being distributed through fair price shops. The stock was purchased from all handloom and powerloom cooperative societies in the State. As it was difficult for the societies to meet the entire demand, the Government purchased dhotis from private parties through a tender.

According to official sources, the distribution would have been over by now but for diversion of three lakh dhotis to tsunami victims and failure of some private parties to supply the quantity in time. Private manufacturers who agreed to supply 15 lakh dhotis could provide only seven lakh pieces owing to a strike by workers of powerloom units.

However, the State made good the shortage and there would not be any problem in completing the distribution by month-end.

Among the districts, Coimbatore topped with 6.78 lakh men and 6.61 lakh women beneficiaries followed by Vellore with 6.71 lakh men and 6.71 lakh women. The smallest number of recipients was in Karur (1.632 lakh men and women).

To prevent diversion, specific markings were made on all dhotis and sarees, the sources said.

Jobs for weavers

About 350 handloom and 85 powerloom societies were involved in the production and the orders had ensured jobs to weavers for the last six months.

To provide them jobs for the remaining six months, the Government would involve them in production of churidar and furnishing materials.

Recently, it launched sale of low-cost churidar materials on a small scale through cooperative societies. This was well received by the public.

The Government now wanted to go for mass production and would tie up with banks for loan assistance, the sources said.

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