Loom Weavers Begin Strike, Saree Production Hampered

TN government plans to distribute sarees, dhotis to the poor for Pongal go for a toss
Loom Weavers Begin Strike, Saree Production Hampered

KARIMNAGAR: The owners of power looms in Sircilla, who were happy with the bulk orders for sarees given by some major private traders of Tamil Nadu recently, are now a worried lot due to the ongoing strike by the workers that might hit saree production. The workers under the aegis of Sircilla Power Loom Weavers (SPLW) association have launched the strike on Tuesday demanding the power loom owners to increase wages.

It may be recalled that the Sircilla power loom owners got a big boost in the form of bulk orders for sarees and dhotis from Tamil Nadu. About 1,000 owners took the work order from Raja Rani Weaving Company and two other companies from Tamil Nadu to weave sarees.

According to sources, 1.73 crore sarees and 1.72 crore dhotis will be distributed and the TN government would purchase the sarees through private agencies and will distribute the sarees and dhotis to the poor during Sankranti (Pongal).

SPLW is demanding for better wages ie. rise to 30 paise from 17 paise for 10 pics (a measurement). In view of the failure of talks with Sircilla Polyester Manufacturing Association (SPMA), SPLW began its strike on Tuesday. About 36,000 power loom units have come to stand still due to the strike.

Tamil Nadu based Raja Rani Weaving Company’s proprietor, Kanakaraj Gopal, who is camping at Sircilla, requested  the SPLW to withdraw their strike as they had already increased wages from `4.30 to `5.10 per metre in November.

“If production of the sarees is interrupted, it shows impact on further orders. Nearly 80 per cent production has been completed so far. Due to the strike on Tuesday about 2.5 lakh metre sarees production has been stalled,” he lamented adding that they have to deliver the order by the first week of January 2015.

Impressed with the work of Sircilla weavers, Tamil Nadu ICDS authorities have given an order for 6.25 lakh metre saree production recently. If the interruption is continued, the weavers here may not get such major orders again, observed Kanakaraj Gopal, and urged the SPLW to review their strike and start production of the sarees.

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