Amid preparations for the Pongal festival’s saree and dhoti production for next year, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran has questioned the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government over the delay in granting production permission for free dhotis and sarees to be distributed to ration card holders.
In a post on X, Dhinakaran said that production permission was usually issued to weavers by July every year. However, with August nearing its end, the government had still not granted the necessary approval, raising concerns over the livelihood of nearly 3 lakh weavers dependent on the scheme.
Dhinakaran pointed out that the government had already issued an order in July allocating ₹300 crore as the first instalment for producing dhotis and sarees using a new, higher-quality variety of yarn. Despite this, he alleged that weavers were yet to receive permission to begin production.
He said the delay was particularly concerning given the limited time available before Pongal. Production, weaving, quality testing, transportation and distribution would all have to be completed within a short period to ensure the garments reach beneficiaries before the festival.
Dhinakaran questioned whether the delay was part of a larger plan by the TVK government to impose additional conditions on the free dhoti and saree scheme and reduce the number of beneficiaries.
He also raised another possibility, asking whether the government was planning to hand over the scheme to companies from outside Tamil Nadu, similar to what he alleged had happened with schemes such as the ‘Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram’ scheme.
“Is the TVK government planning to hand over this scheme to companies from other states, as it has already done with schemes including the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram scheme?” Dhinakaran questioned.
The AMMK leader described the delay in granting production permission as condemnable and said it could adversely affect the livelihoods of around 3 lakh weaver families.
He urged the TVK government to immediately grant permission for production and ensure that the free dhotis and sarees reach beneficiaries before Pongal.
Dhinakaran also called on the government to protect the livelihoods of the weaver community by ensuring that the production process begins without further delay.
பொங்கல் பண்டிகையையொட்டி குடும்ப அட்டைதாரர்களுக்கு விலையில்லா வேட்டி, சேலை வழங்கும் திட்டத்திற்கான உற்பத்தி அனுமதி வழங்குவதில் தாமதம் – தாய்மாமன் தங்க மோதிரம் திட்டத்தைப் போல, இத்திட்டத்தையும் வெளிமாநில நிறுவனங்களுக்கு தாரை வார்க்க தவெக அரசு திட்டமிட்டுள்ளதா?
வழக்கமாக ஒவ்வோர்…
— TTV Dhinakaran (@TTVDhinakaran) August 26, 2026
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