ENA Sectors 2024-01-24 13:22:03 <p><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Chennai, Jan 24 (KNN)</strong> The Handloom Weavers Federation held a protest in Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, calling for new government orders to manufacture saris intended for free distribution during Pongal, on Tuesday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Affiliated with the All India Trade Union Congress, the federation aimed to address the challenging task imposed on handloom and pedal-operated looms to produce around four lakh saris by December for Pongal distribution.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The protest was led by the federations district secretary, M. Veluchamy, and in the presence of Communist Party of India Virudhunagar district secretary, P. Lingam.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Veluchamy highlighted the impracticality of this target, leading the state government to source the saris externally.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Each loom can produce only three to four saris a day and it was an impossible target for the societies. Hence, the State government procured the saris from outside, he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The consequence of this decision is that over 10,000 employees reliant on these looms are now without work due to the government's failure to place orders, according to Veluchamy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">However, later in the day, orders for two months of work were received, providing some relief.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">In addition to seeking steady government orders, the federation emphasised the need for wage revisions for pedal looms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">The protesters also called for the immediate disbursement of a Rs 1,000 pension, expressing dissatisfaction with the current policy of providing pension benefits two years after retirement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px">Further grievances included the government's non-payment of a Rs 1 lakh death assistance to members' beneficiaries and the discontinuation of the medical insurance scheme for the members, as asserted by Veluchamy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>(KNN Bureau)</strong></em></span></p> 36408 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/sectors/tamil-nadu-govt-procurement-policy-rendered-10000-weavers-without-work-handloom-federation 2024-01-24 13:22:03 knnindia.co.in