Tamil Nadu Govt Procurement Policy Rendered 10,000 Weavers Without Work: Handloom Federation

(MENAFN- KNN India) Chennai, Jan 24 (KNN) The Handloom Weavers' Federation held a protest in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, calling for new government orders to manufacture saris intended for free distribution during Pongal, on Tuesday.

Affiliated with the All India Trade Union Congress, the federation aimed to address the challenging task imposed on handloom and pedal-operated looms to produce around four lakh saris by December for Pongal distribution.

The protest was led by the federation's district secretary, M. Veluchamy, and in the presence of Communist Party of India Virudhunagar district secretary, P. Lingam.

Veluchamy highlighted the impracticality of this target, leading the state government to source the saris externally.

“Each loom can produce only three to four saris a day and it was an impossible target for the societies. Hence, the State government procured the saris from outside,” he said.

The consequence of this decision is that over 10,000 employees reliant on these looms are now without work due to the government's failure to place orders, according to Veluchamy.

However, later in the day, orders for two months of work were received, providing some relief.

In addition to seeking steady government orders, the federation emphasised the need for wage revisions for pedal looms.

The protesters also called for the immediate disbursement of a Rs 1,000 pension, expressing dissatisfaction with the current policy of providing pension benefits two years after retirement.

Further grievances included the government's non-payment of a Rs 1 lakh death assistance to members' beneficiaries and the discontinuation of the medical insurance scheme for the members, as asserted by Veluchamy.

(KNN Bureau)

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