The Hindu : National : Nine more handloom clusters allotted to Tamil Nadu

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Nine more handloom clusters allotted to Tamil Nadu

N. Anand

CHENNAI: The Centre has allotted nine more handloom clusters to the State as part of the phase IV cluster development programme under the Integrated Handloom Development Scheme.

These clusters are likely to be located at Pillaiyarpalayam (Kancheepuram), Naduverapattu (Cuddalore), Iyyampettai, Parmathivellore (Tiruchengode), Pollachi, Paramakudi, Sellur (Madurai), Srivilliputhur and Doddampalayam (Erode). They will benefit more than 5,000 handloom weavers.

“With this, the State has been sanctioned 37 clusters since 2005-2006, and we hope the weavers have been fully covered. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 4.62 crore for executing the first 25 mini-clusters and Rs 5.40 crore for the new clusters,” Handlooms and Textiles Commissioner M.P. Nirmala told The Hindu.

As per the proposal, the Tamil Nadu Handloom Development Corporation will be the implementing agency. Pillaiyarpalayam and Iyyampettai will design low-cost silk saris, while the Srivilliputhur, Doddampalayam and Pollachi clusters will specialise in saris, silk saris and Negamam saris respectively. Paramakudi and Naduverapattau will make silk and cotton shirts, while Parmathivellore will continue to focus on dhotis and Sellur will trun out turkey towels and towels.

The programme will be implemented in the clusters within three years, based on the needs to be fixed by a baseline survey. To help the weavers, the implementing agency will provide them with common infrastructure, looms and accessories, training and work sheds.

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