TN Federation of Powerloom Associations seek 30% hike in wages

Tamil Nadu Powerloom Federation requests 30% wage increase for Pongal festival dhoti and sari production, citing economic challenges.

The Tamil Nadu Federation of Powerloom Associations has urged the State government to increase wages by 30% for the production of dhotis and saris meant for free distribution to ration cardholders during the Pongal festival.

In a letter to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, federation secretary R. Velusamy and co-coordinator B. Kandavel said that next to agriculture, the handloom industry was a major source of livelihood in the State, with over 5.4 lakh looms supporting more than 30 lakh families. There were 228 handloom cooperative weaver societies operating over 68,000 looms, producing dhotis and saris for government welfare schemes such as the free dhotis and saris scheme and the school uniform scheme. The letter highlighted that these schemes provided direct and indirect employment to lakhs of workers.

According to the letter, in 2010-11, the wage for dhoti production was ₹16, while for sari production, it was ₹28.16. Over the years, wages were gradually increased, and in 2019, they were raised to ₹24 for dhotis and ₹43.01 for saris. However, since then, there was no further wage revisions. The State had assured all necessary support for the development of the handloom industry. Despite this, it was six years since the last wage revision for these schemes, the letter said.

The letter pointed out that due to prevailing economic conditions, rising costs, and inflation, it had become increasingly difficult for weavers to sustain themselves with the wage rates fixed in 2019. Several associated industries, including carpentry, lathe work, auto driving, and food vending, had increased their wages, rents, and production costs. Therefore, the federation urged the government to provide a 30% wage hike.