Department of Handlooms and Textiles

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          One – third of India’s textile exports came from the state of Tamil Nadu. In 1987, the Government of Tamil Nadu started a policy of protecting handloom weavers though a special scheme, the production of low cost sarees and dhotis. The weavers earned Rs.30 to Rs.45, as daily wages, as part of this scheme.
           A special project under Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (S.G.S.Y.) for the economic upliftment of Handloom weavers was set up to provide a permanent solution to help weavers earn a livelihood. The proposal is a partnership between the central and state Governments and approved by the Department of Rural Development Government of India. The beneficiaries being the handloom weavers under the Co.operative fold of the Department of Handlooms and Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu.

          To understand the SGSY project, it is essential to recognize the issues facing the weavers. Working in isolation with no forums to protect them, they suffer from lack of knowledge in the areas of product diversification, marketing and identifying of export potential. And while outdated looms raise production costs, the flow of funds is grossly inadequate. The result, little or no competition for power looms and global manufactures.