Chennai, Jan 13 (KNN) The Tamil Nadu government has decided to engage 3,000 more power looms for producing sarees and dhotis meant for distribution to the public through ration cards as part of the Pongal gift hamper of the government.

As per reports, the state government has already given orders for 99, 56,883 dhotis and 1, 26, 19,004 sarees to 225 power loom weavers cooperative societies. A total of 17,455 power looms are engaged in the production of these dhotis and sarees for executing the mega order.

The state government has asked the Tamil Nadu Federation of Power looms association to identity the power looms and to send the list of looms and contact phone numbers and other contact details to the respective Assistant Directors of Handlooms in Erode, Tiruchengode, Coimbatore, and Tiruppur districts.

According to a report in the ANI, only 60 to 70 per cent of the production of sarees has been completed while only 45 to 50 per cent of the production of dhotis is completed.

The Tamil Nadu government this year was late in placing the order for the Pogal gift hampers. Usually, the order for the Dhotis and Sarees are placed in either May or June, this year it was delayed till October.  (KNN Bureau)