Weavers open gruel centre at Rajapalayam

Weavers from the Rajapalayam cluster, who manufacture sarees for free distribution by the State government, opened a gruel centre at South Vaithyanathapuram here on Monday to highlight their plight following more than three months of joblessness.

The weavers, led by local community leaders M. Arumugaperumal and M. Sivalingam, opened the centre as their livelihood had been affected by the prolonged lack of work.

The weavers said that as the State government had changed the variety of sarees to be manufactured, it should bear the cost of making the necessary modifications to the handlooms. They also demanded compensation of ₹10,000 a month for each month they remained without work.

Mr. Sivalingam said around 2,000 weavers in and around Rajapalayam depended on manufacturing sarees for their livelihood. They could make up to five sarees of the earlier variety a day and earn around ₹81 per saree, he said.