MADURAI: Chinnalapatti, in Dindigul district, popularly known for its handloom units numbering about 5,000, is currently in a perishing state and the weavers are hoping for a better deal after the elections.


Weaving has been a way of life for the people of Chinnalapatti from time immemorial but currently the number of handlooms has reduced from 500 to 20. This is largely due to the fact that the younger generation have no inclination toward taking up the age-old profession.

Handloom Cooperative societies have served as a boon to these weavers for long. Several government schemes have been implemented by these cooperative societies but over the past two years the number of these societies have reduced from 25 to 7. In case the weavers fail to pay the housing loans, the societies are forced to pay the amount and this had put many of them into debt.

Speaking to Express on their plight, the villagers said that their working schedule extends from 6am to 7pm, with just Rs 50 paid daily.

“We are forced to purchase essential commodities that cost less and this brings down our energy to work. Whichever government takes to power we want an assurance that the prices of essential commodities is reduced so that at the end of the day we are happy to have at least a nutritious diet though we have foregone other luxuries of life,” said a woman weaver. In order to at least sustain the existing weavers, many said that government institutions like Transport Corporation should be made to purchase uniforms from co-operative mills like theirs.