Chendamangalam weavers see a revival of fortunes with Onam sales

Initiative by cooperative bank comes to their aid

The Chendamangalam brand of handwoven dress materials has seen a revival of fortunes with the intervention of Chendamangalam Service Cooperative Bank even as weavers societies have appealed to the State government to increase return on weaving school uniforms under a government programme. Ajith Kumar Gothuruthu, secretary of Chendamangalam Karimpadam Weaving Cooperative H191, said the new initiative had seen creating fresh orders worth more than ₹5 lakh during the week. Most of the stocks are being sold now, he said . The service cooperative bank had introduced a scheme in which cooperative bank members paid ₹1,000 and the bank would pay for ₹1,500 worth of products to weaving cooperatives. Most of the products included saris, double dhotis, shirt pieces and shirts as well as churidar materials. Silk masks have been a great hit with the buyers, said Mr. Kumar.