The Tamil Nadu Weavers’ Associations Federation has urged the State government to issue the Government Order (G.O.) for the production of free dhotis and sarees at the earliest to ensure employment for powerloom workers and facilitate timely distribution ahead of Pongal.In a letter to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, federation president T.S.A. Subramanian said more than five lakh powerlooms were operating in the State and that 60,000 powerlooms attached to over 250 primary powerloom weavers’ cooperative societies depended on government orders for the production of free dhotis and sarees, garments for old-age pension beneficiaries and school uniforms, providing employment for nearly six months annually.The federation said the government distributes about 1.77 crore dhotis and sarees through fair price shops during Pongal every year and urged it to provide free dhotis and sarees in new designs and colours to all 2.22 crore ration cardholders during the forthcoming festival.It said that if the G.O. was issued immediately, production could be completed by the end of December and distribution could begin in the first week of January. The federation also urged the government to procure cotton through the Cotton Corporation of India and commence yarn production in six cooperative spinning mills to enable dhoti production from mid-July and saree production from early August. Published - June 04, 2026 05:48 pm IST