National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has established a Common Facility Service Centre (CFSC) with a grant of Rs.35 lakh for the benefit of weavers under Cluster Development Programme at Thirubhuvanam.
District Collector N.Subbaiyan, who inspected the facility at Thirubhunvanam on Wednesday, appealed to the weavers to fully utilise the facility to market their products. The Handloom Silk Cluster promoted by NABARD at Thirubhuvanam was inaugurated in September 2009. Small Industries Product Promotion Organization (SIPPO) is the implementing agency of the project. There are about 30 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the cluster with about 300 weavers and a federation of these groups has also been formed with an elected committee with representation from all cluster areas. The CFSC has been equipped with all weaving related machineries such as kora winding and twisting, zari winding, compressor, looms, and punching card machine. It also has computer, scanner, and printer. K.Subramanian, District Development Manager, NABARD, Thanjavur, said that skill upgradation training in embroidery, zardosi aari work, and bead work were being imparted to women weavers.
