The Salem and Tiruchengode Range Handloom Weavers Cooperative Societies Employees Union urged the Cooptex to take steps to procure the entire stock of silk and cotton varieties from primary handloom weavers cooperative societies.
The Cooptex should come forward to clear the entire arrear of payment for the stock procured from the primary weavers cooperative societies with immediate effect.
A resolution was adopted at an integrated handloom industry protection consultation meeting held in the city recently.
Another resolution stated that more than 2,000 pedal handlooms are functioning in Salem — Tiruchengode range and are involved in the production of dhoti and uniforms. The government should come forward to provide full production programme to all these handlooms without discrimination from June.
A large quantity of stock of dhoti and school students uniforms produced through the pedal handlooms is lying idle with the societies. The government should purchase the entire stock immediately.
The government had placed orders for the production of school uniforms with the primary societies. The societies procured the yarn and started production. But the government without any prior intimation has reduced the quantity affecting the handloom societies, another resolution said. The government should stick to its previous order and procure the entire stock of uniforms produced by the handloom societies.
The failure of the government to clear the payment arrears for the stock procured for the Pongal festival during 2014 and 2015 too has affected the societies. The entire arrears should be paid without delay, the meeting said.
The handloom societies are getting a very minimum profit for the stock produced for government. This profit is not adequate enough for the functioning of the handlooms. A majority of the societies are suffering heavy loss due to the implementation of the free sari, dhoti scheme.
The Cooptex is providing 20 per cent profit margin for the cotton varieties. The government should increase the profit margin to 20 per cent for the stock produced under the free sari, dhotis scheme, the meeting added.
The meeting asked the government to take steps to release the recommendation of the committee set up for the wage revision of the employees of handloom weavers cooperative societies.
S. Subramanian, honorary president of the union, presided.
