Spl handloom exhibitions in 40 towns to promote han'loom goods

: Special handloom exhibitions have been started in 40 towns in Tamil Nadu, including Erode today to promote handloom goods, Handloom Minister Sundararajan said here tonight.
In addition 15 special expos and a national level expo have also been started, he said after inaugurating a 15 day handloom expo here.
The minister said a number of such expos had been held in two and a half years, number through which Rs 22.50 cr worth handloom goods were sold.
He said 1.72 crore dhotis and an equal number of sarees would be given by government on time to beneficiaries. Government had produced and procured 1.56 crore dhotis and 63 lakh saris. The balance would be ready within 45 days and would be distributed, he said.

He said the delay was due to the provision of 60 count quality dyed yarn to ooperative weaver's societies, instead of 40 count yarn.
The Minister said in Erode district, 189 Handloom Weavers Cooperative Societies and 34 PowerLoom weavers Cooperative Societies are functioning with 68,609 handlooms and 21458 powerlooms.
Further it was targeted to produce Rs 166.48 crore worth handloom goods in weaver's cooperatives and to market them at Rs 198.60 crore this fiscal, he said.