The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Poompuhar, a symbol of our culture and heritage”

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Poompuhar, a symbol of our culture and heritage”

Special Correspondent

Poompuhar showroom inaugurated in Kumbakonam by Pongalur N. Palanisamy

Photo: M. Srinath

HONOURED: Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry, giving away an award to Srikanda Sthapathi in Kumbakonam on Friday. —

KUMBAKONAM : “Poompuhar, a unit of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, is a symbol of our rich culture and heritage,” said Pongalur N.Palanisamy, Minister for Rural Industries, here on Friday.

Inaugurating the Poompuhar showroom, the Minister said that besides nurturing handicrafts and artisans, Poompuhar has also become a profit-making organisation. Though the organisation existed for the past 36 years, it is making profits for the last four years. It has been achieving a sales target of Rs 25 crore for an year and makes a profit of Rs 3 crore, the minister said. Poompuhar is now contributing fund to the state Government. It has given Rs. 75 to Rs. 80 lakh to the Government.

Tamil Nadu has also become the best state for starting industries. This is because of the industrial policy of the Government, industrial peace that is prevailing, concessions and incentives given by the Government and reasonable power tariff.

“The State is now third in the country, next only to Gujarat and Maharashtra in industrial development,” the minister said. He also said that a medical insurance scheme for nearly 10,000 artisans is on the cards. They can benefit to the tune of Rs 15,000 worth of medical treatment in an year without paying any premium.

Ko.Si.Mani, Co-operation Minister, distributed Poompuhar awards to the best artisans for the year 2007-08 and 2008-09. Those who got the award of a gold medal and cash for the year 2007-08 were D.Srikanta sthapathi of Swami Malai for panchaloha idol, R.Gopikrishnan, Chennai (panchaloha idol), C.Shanmugham of Kallakurichi for wooden sculpture, and K.V.Giri, Chennai for Thanjavur painting, C.Haridoss of Ariyalur for Thanjavur painting, N.Balakrishnan of Chennai for metal plates and A.Hepsibai Dharmaraj of Marthandam for stitching.

Those who got the awards for the year 2008-09 were P.Sampathumar of Cuddalore for clay works, P.Vijayeswari of Thanjavur for Thanjavur paintings, K.Palanivel of Karaikudi for bronze cast, P.Srinivasan of Thanjavur for musical instrument, P.Murugesan Sirpi of Perambalur for wooden carving, C.Loganathan of Mamallapuram for stone sculpture, K.Ragunathan of Thenkanikottai for wooden sculpture, V.Meenakumar of Thanjavur for Thanjavur painting, Rani Vincent of Kanyakumari for banana fibre works and S.Saroja of Thanjavur for stitching work.

R.Rajagopal, Principal Secretary, Handloom and Handicrafts, said that new showrooms would be opened at Tuticorin, Rameswaram and Rajapalayam.

Overseas foray

Showrooms are to be opened at California, South Africa and London. A raw material bank will soon be opened at Swami Malai. M.S.Shanmugham, Thanjavur Collector, Shankari Narayanan, MLAs.Ramalingam former MLA, K.Anbalagan, district panchayat council member, P.Thamizhazhagan, Kumbakonam Municipal chairman Srikanta Sthapathi, Director, Poompuhar, participated in the function.

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