Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi M. Vijay Balaji speaking to The Hindu in Coimbatore on Thursday. S. Siva Saravanan
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan
The Tamil Nadu government will issue an order by the end of this month or early July on production of dhotis and sarees for free distribution during Pongal, said Minister for Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi K. Vijay Balaji on Thursday (June 25).
The Minister told The Hindu that the aim was to ensure that the free dhoti and saree scheme benefitted both the weavers and the public. The government would usually issue the order for production of the dhotis and sarees in October or November for distribution in January. However, the TVK-led government would issue the order soon.
The Revenue Department would take a call on the scope of increasing the number of sarees and dhotis to be produced, he added.
The Minister had also ordered a detailed study of every handloom cluster in the State, said T.N. Venkatesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Textiles, Handlooms, Khadi and Handicrafts. The aim was to extend focused intervention to support and sustain the hand weaving activity in these clusters. The Handloom Day would be celebrated in a grand manner this year on August 7, he added.
Published – June 25, 2026 07:43 pm IST