Rs 244 Crore released for Free Cloth Scheme

The government released Rs  244 crore in the first phase for the free dhothi and saree distribution scheme so that the cloth production work is about to start soon.  During Pongal festival every year, the cloth is  given free of cost to the poor, needy, destitute, widows etc through ration shops.

The production scheme will provide employment to handloom, pedal loom and power loom weavers for certain months. Normally, the funds will be released in March-April and tenders be issued for buying yarn.

Then, cloth production will be  started in May-June. Due to lack of proper planning for the past few years, the supply of yarn  commenced in the months of September or October and the production did not complete before Pongal completely, leading to  frustration to many weavers. The same situation has happened this year also.

A GO, issued yesterday by the Secretary of Handloom and Textiles Department Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, said that for the upcoming Pongal festival, 1,79,59,074 sarees and 1,79,36,527 dhothi will be produced.

Last year production of two lakh dhothi and saree each has been kept pending. As usual, 3.65 meter dhothi and 5.50 meter saree will be made by handloom and pedal loom.On power loom, 3.75 meter dhothi and 5.50 meter saree will be produced.

Rs 487.92 crore will be provided for this scheme for buying yarn, wages for weavers, transportation, packing etc. Of the sum,  Rs 243.96 crore is being released in the first phase.  The remaining amount will be released on the basis of requirement as the work progresses, the GO said.