Different varieties of handloom sarees procured from various cooperative societies from across the state, along with handloom lungis, pillow covers, bedsheets, and curtains, worth Rs. 50 lakhs have been displayed at the annual district level handlooms exhibition which commenced at the Poomalai complex, Cantonment in the city on Thursday.
N. Selvaraj, State Forest Minister, inaugurated the exhibition organised in connection with the Deepavali festival, by the State Department of Handlooms and sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Union Ministry of Textiles, New Delhi. T. Soundiah, District Collector, was also present.
Silk sarees procured from Salem, Kancheepuram, Tirubuvanam, Kumbakonam; cotton sarees, kota cotton sarees and kora silk sarees from Madurai, Woraiyur, Paramakudi, Chinnalapatti and Coimbatore; lungis from Cuddalore, Kurinjipadi, Kancheepuram, the cotton sarees, silk sarees, chinnalapatti sarees produced by various handloom cooperative societies of Paramakudi are on display at the exhibition.
Pillow covers, bed sheets, curtains produced by the handloom weavers cooperative societies of Sennimalai, Erode and Karur are also displayed in the expo. Other handloom weavers’ cooperative societies from all over the State are participating in the fair.
It has been targeted to market Rs. 30 lakhs worth goods during this 15-day exhibition which will be continued till October 15, according to T. K. Ekambaram, Assistant Director of Handlooms and Textiles, Tiruchi circle (in-charge). A similar exhibition held last year fetched a sales turnover of Rs. 24 lakhs, against a target of Rs. 20 lakhs.
Government rebate of 30 per cent or a maximum of Rs. 150 for each product will be offered for the cotton goods. For the silk varieties, the concerned cooperative societies will offer a commission of 10 per cent along with the government rebate of 30 per cent or a maximum rebate of Rs. 300 for each variety, Mr. Ekambaram added.
