31-07-2025
Powerloom weavers want original production order of 1.77 crore dhotis and sarees restored
Expressing shock and concern over the drastic reduction in the production order for free dhotis and sarees meant for distribution during the Pongal festival in 2026, the Tamil Nadu Federation of Powerloom Associations has urged the State government to reconsider the decision and restore the original production scale of 1.77 crore dhotis and sarees, to be produced entirely through powerlooms, as done the previous year.
B. Kandavel, joint coordinator of the federation, said the government had announced in April 2025 that 1.46 crore sarees and 1.44 crore dhotis would be produced this year, excluding old stock. However, the latest production order has drastically reduced the numbers to 1.28 crore dhotis and 1.06 crore sarees, triggering widespread unrest among weavers.
Last year, orders were issued for producing 1.77 crore dhotis and sarees through powerloom cooperatives. Weavers were expecting a similar scale this year as well. The reduced allocation now threatens to result in the loss of two months of work for thousands of powerloom workers, particularly in Erode, Tiruchengode, Tiruppur, and Coimbatore.
Mr. Kandavel noted that the government had initially stated that over 65,000 powerlooms across 240 cooperative societies would be engaged in the project. In contrast, the latest order allocates only 13,423 looms for saree production and 12,882 for dhoti production, leaving many societies without sufficient work and unable to operate their looms.
Adding to their concerns is the government's decision to reintroduce handloom and pedal loom production for part of this year's distribution. A total of 3.66 lakh sarees and 12.6 lakh dhotis have been allocated to traditional methods. 'This move has come as a surprise, given that last year's entire production was completed exclusively via powerlooms,' he said.
The joint coordinator said the reduction in orders would severely impact the income and livelihood of weavers, especially in regions where powerloom weaving is the primary occupation.
'We are now urging the government to reconsider the decision and restore the original production scale of 1.77 crore dhotis and sarees, fully through powerlooms as done in the previous year,' he stressed. He also appealed for the dhoti and saree quotas under the senior citizen pension scheme, which include 26 lakh sarees and 9 lakh dhotis, to be fairly distributed among all powerloom cooperative societies to ensure continued employment.
Mr. Kandavel said their concerns have been submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the Minister for Handlooms, and the Chief Secretary through emails, seeking a positive response.
