Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Three weavers' societies revived

Staff Reporter

"Revival of three more cooperative societies hinges on success of the experiment''

BRIGHT PROSPECTS: P. Annavi, Labour Welfare Minister, enquiring a salesperson about silk sarees at the inaugural of an exhibition of cotton and silk materials in Tiruchi on Thursday. — Photo: M.Moorthy

TIRUCHI: Three Primary Weavers' Cooperative Societies in Tiruchi district have so far been revived under Integrated Cooperative Development Programme (ICDP) during the current financial year.

Revival of these societies by the Department of Textiles and Handlooms has provided a fresh lease of life to their 443 members, who remained jobless for the past two to three years.

The societies went red by sustaining heavy losses years together.

Perarignar Anna Cooperative Weavers' Society at Jayamkondan near Musiri, Edhumalai Cooperative Weavers' Society near Thuraiyur and Kodaiyampalayam Sri Cauvery Amman Weavers' Cooperative Society have been revived with infusion of Rs. 1.5 lakhs each.

The ICDP funds are routed through Tiruchi District Central Cooperative Bank. The bank, by virtue of becoming a member under the refurbishment strategy, will be entitled to dividend to be paid by these societies out of their profits.

A repayment formula has been worked out.

An experiment

"Revival of three more societies hinges on the success of the above experiment. The department has sent proposals to the State Government for revival of Tirumangalam Pathini Vinayagar Cooperative Handlooms Weavers Society and Punjai Sankenthi Padmasala Cooperative Handloom Weavers' Society both near Lalgudi and Maragathasaleswarar Cooperative Handlooms Weavers' Society at Tirueengoimalai," informed the Assistant Director of Handlooms, Tiruchi, S. Gopalakrishnan.

Steeped in debts, these societies, which have become dormant for the past few years, together account for 343 members

Annual exhibitions

In coordination with the Union Ministry of Textiles, the State Handlooms and Textiles Department has been organising annual exhibitions exclusively to boost the sale of handloom goods produced by primary societies.

The Labour Welfare Minister, P. Annavi, declared open an exhibition at Thevar Hall on Thursday, in the presence of the Collector, K. Nanda Kishore.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Gopalakrishnan said the exhibits included new varieties of silk and cotton saris, dhoties, bedsheets, and bedspreads produced by about 45 primary societies.

The export-oriented voil fabric is produced at Kodiyampalayam, Paithamparai, Thulaiyanatham, Poovalur and Kottathur. There were also quality bed-sheets from Karur, he added.

Silk varieties would attract two rebates — a discount of 10 per cent offered by the societies concerned, and the State Government's rebate of Rs.200. For cotton garments, the discount is 20 per cent.

A sales target of Rs. 30 lakhs has been fixed for the current exhibition.

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