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Weavers await nod to sell products to government

PUDUCHERRY: Weavers in Puducherry are awaiting the green signal to sell handloom products worth Rs. 12 crore to the government for free distribution during ‘Pongal’ festival.

Though Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Thursday informed the Assembly that the government would continue the free distribution, as done in the last three years, the weavers are not enthused by the announcement as it was not known whether the clothes would be purchased from the weavers. They were concerned about Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy’s remark a few months ago that the government would distribute polyester materials as “the quality of the items supplied by the weavers was not up to the expected standard.”

To build public opinion, The Pondicherry State Weavers Co-operative Society Employees Union on Friday displayed handloom materials produced by the weavers at a press conference.

President of the union T. Murugan said they were prepared to prove the quality of the material at any forum.

The Chief Minister had made a similar announcement before ‘Deepavali’ after the Welfare Minister’s remark but failed to stick to his stand, he said adding that if the government did not procure the materials from the weavers for distribution, they would launch a massive agitation.

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