The Erode district unit of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)-affiliated Handloom Weavers’ Union has decided to organise demonstrations at Bhavani, Sivagiri and Chennimalai on July 30, demanding measures to safeguard the handloom sector and improve the welfare of handloom weavers.The decision was taken at the district conference of the union held at Sivagiri on July 25.The conference urged the State government to revise the basic wages and dearness allowance of handloom weavers in view of the rising cost of living. It also sought an increase in the monthly pension for handloom weavers aged above 60 from ₹1,200 to ₹6,000.Among the other resolutions adopted were enhancement of welfare assistance under the Tamil Nadu Handloom Workers’ Welfare Board, strict enforcement of the Handloom Reservation Act to prevent the manufacture of handloom varieties on powerlooms and the sale of powerloom fabrics as handloom products, reduction in the prices of raw materials, enhancement of the rebate on handloom textiles, and procurement of textiles produced by handloom cooperative societies by the government.The conference also demanded the prompt release of rebate subsidy due to handloom cooperative societies, conduct of democratic elections to the cooperative societies, and regularisation of consolidated-pay employees. The protesters will also press for these demands during the demonstrations to be held simultaneously at three places, in response to the call given by the AITUC-affiliated Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Federation.At the conference, S. Ponnusamy was elected president and M. Varadharajan general secretary of the district union. AITUC State secretary S. Chinnasamy addressed the delegates. Published - July 27, 2026 05:51 pm IST