Weavers call off protest march at Rajapalayam

After a massive turn-out of weavers for the ‘wait-in’ protest at Rajapalayam Taluk office on Tuesday, officials held talks with representatives of their societies and political parties and promised to fulfill all their demands soon.

Subsequently, the weavers called off their march from Gandhi Statue junction to the taluk office and the ‘wait-in’ protest.

Rajapalayam Tahsildar Rahul Gandhi and Virudhunagar District Assistant Director (Handlooms) Cheran held talks with representatives of the weavers.

During the talks, they said that consultative meetings with weavers in all districts with regard to increase in wages were being held. After conc;usion of the meetings, their demand for increase in wages for production of each saree from the proposed ₹114 to ₹250 would be considered.

The weavers also demanded that old stocks worth 1.44 lakh languishing with them should be procured by the State government, and the officials told them that a proposal on the issue had already been sent to the Director of Handlooms.

The weavers then demanded that the State government provide ₹10,000 assistance for modifiying their looms to produce the new variety of sarees proposed by the government. While the societies had already given ₹5,000 for it, the officials agreed to the demand and said the State government would reimburse the amount to the societies.

The officials also promised to take up with the State government their demand for ₹10,000 monthly assistance for lack of work for the last four months.

Weavers’ leader M. Sivalingam said the protest was given up on Tuesday based on an appeal from the officials. However, the protest through gruel centres would continue till all demands were met by the State government.