T.N. Powerloom Federation seeks higher free power quota, measures to boost employment

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The Tamil Nadu Federation of Powerloom Associations has urged the State government to increase the free electricity quota for powerloom units and introduce measures to generate employment and reduce production costs in the sector.

The demands were raised at the federation’s State executive committee meeting held in Erode recently under the chairmanship of its president, L.K.M. Suresh. The meeting also adopted a resolution congratulating Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the new government.

Among its key demands, the federation sought an increase in the free electricity allocation for Tariff IIIA2 powerloom units from 1,000 units to 1,500 units, in line with the ruling party’s election promise. It also called for measures to ensure sustained employment for weavers engaged in the production of free dhotis and sarees distributed under the Pongal welfare scheme.

The federation urged the government to streamline the scheme in consultation with industry representatives and officials to provide up to six months of employment for weavers. It also sought annual changes in the colour codes and border designs of free dhotis and sarees to prevent recycling and misuse.

To create additional employment opportunities, the federation requested the government to extend the free dhoti and saree scheme to all ration card holders and route the production of uniforms for government employees and schoolchildren through powerloom units.

The federation demanded the withdrawal of the enhanced property tax imposed on cottage-scale powerloom sheds and sought the restoration of the earlier tax structure. It also requested that powerloom units operating from residential premises continue to be assessed under residential tax rather than industrial tax.

To reduce production costs, the federation called for the installation of subsidised solar power systems with net-metering facilities on powerloom sheds. Other demands included the implementation of the cloth bag scheme, establishment of common effluent t