TN Announces 10% Wage Hike and DA Increase for Handloom Weavers

Tamil Nadu Handlooms Minister M. Vijay Balaji announced on Tuesday in the Assembly in Chennai a 10 per cent increase in the basic wages and a 10 per cent hike in Dearness Allowance for weavers who are members of cotton and silk handloom weavers’ cooperative societies.

Replying to the discussion on the demand for grants for the handloom ministry, the minister stated that the state government's contribution to the savings and security scheme for handloom weavers would be increased from 8 per cent to 16 per cent to strengthen their social security.

To encourage new entrepreneurs to enter the handloom industry, the state government will provide subsidies of up to Rs. 2.5 lakh per year. Vijay Balaji said this measure would boost employment generation and foster innovative ventures while widening marketing and export opportunities for handloom goods.

The minister also announced the establishment of a Silk Export Trade Facilitation centre at Kanchipuram. The centre aims to help weavers access international markets for silk apparel, promote environmentally suitable textiles, and broaden the global footprint of Kanchipuram silk. In addition, historic buildings operated by handloom cooperative societies will be identified and renovated without altering their antiquity.

To lower electricity expenses for handloom weavers, the government will provide a 100 per cent subsidy to install solar panels across 100 handloom weaving centres, fostering environmentally sustainable cloth production. Natural dye houses will also be established to produce dyes from naturally available ingredients that do not pollute soil and water bodies, raising the product value in international markets.

Further, Vijay Balaji announced that a dedicated design studio will be set up at Thirubhuvanam in Thanjavur to modernise silk garment designs and appeal to younger generations, with expert designers engaged to compete with private firms. Co-optex will also roll out new designs and a variety of colours, alongside special exhibitions organised in cities across other states to expand marketing reach.