Production of Pongal dhotis and saris is delayed, claim weavers in Erode, Tiruchengode

In October 2022, the State government issued an order for production of 99.56 lakh dhotis and 1.26 crore saris in Tamil Nadu. The delay in issuing the production orders by three months and supply of poor quality yarns to cooperative societies cited as reasons for lagging behind the deadline

With two weeks left for Pongal festival, weavers in Erode and Tiruchengodu, where 80% of the total production orders for free dhotis and saris were being executed, said they would be able to complete only 65% to 70% orders before the deadline of January 10, 2023.

In October 2022, the State government issued an order for production of 99.56 lakh dhotis and 1.26 crore saris to 225 cooperative societies and power loom weaver’s cooperative societies in the State. It also allotted ₹487.92 crore for the purpose.

Yarn is supplied to the societies that are distributed to pedal looms and power looms in Erode, Tiruchengode, Coimbatore and Tiruppur.

B. Kandavel, co-ordinator of Tamil Nadu Federation of Power Looms Associations, said about 42% of saris and 27% of dhotis were produced in Erode and Tiruchengodu so far.

“We could complete 70% of the total production order for saris and 50% of order for dhotis by January 10,” he added.

Power loom owners said while 14 dhotis could be produced at a unit every day, 10 saris could be produced at a unit in a day. He stated that production orders could be fully completed only by the end of February 2023.

Association members told that the government has a stock of 30 lakh dhotis and 30 lakh saris that were produced last year.