With attractive rebates and discounts, the government is going all out to woo customers with handloom products this Deepavali.
Chief Minister N. Rangasamy inaugurated Deepavali exhibitions of the Pondicherry State Weavers Cooperative Society Limited (PONTEX) and The Pondicherry Co-operative Handloom Export Development Project Limited (PONFAB) on Wednesday.
The PONFAB exhibition on Marimalai Adigal Salai has handloom bed sheets, bed spreads, pillow covers, towels, lungis, dhotis and sarees on sale. A staff member said that PONFAB is offering a 15 per cent rebate on products made at its unit in Muthialpet, and a discount of 20 per cent on products sourced from other places. Many of PONFAB’s products are exported, including Turkish towels and lungis. While most of the sarees have been produced by PONFAB, some have been sourced from other States. There is also a small selection of power loom lungis available, he said. PONFAB, which has around 2000 weavers, holds regular exhibitions in different parts of India, he added.
The PONTEX exhibition, also on Marimalai Adigal Salai, has Jacquard woven bed sheets, apart from handloom bed sheets in different sizes. A discount of 25 per cent is being offered to customers, said PONTEX officials. The exhibition is also hosting a section with items with minor defects with a discount from 25 to 60 percent. PONTEX has 14 production units with nearly 2500 weavers. Most products at the exhibition have been sourced from these units, said a PONTEX official. Also on sale are lungis (handloom and power loom), dhotis, napkins, Turkish towels, shirts, Bengal cotton sarees, polyester sarees and fancy printed cotton sarees.
The Puducherry Agro Products, Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (PAPSCO) will also be launching its Deepavali bazaar from Thursday at the Thattanchavady Agricultural Complex on East Coast Road.
