Pushed to the brink, stone sculptors hope for a stimulus package

The sound of stone being chipped fills the air as one drives toward Thuraiyur from Nagalapuram in Tiruchi district. Here, around 200 families of stone sculptors undertake the strenuous work of making statues for temples in the area. Their business that took a hit during the COVID-19 lockdown now shows signs of revival. But, still, the conditions are not really conducive.