Weaving looms in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts are waiting for the state government’s announcement to increase the subsidy to modernize the looms.
S. Velusamy, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Handlooms Federation, said the government had initially announced in the assembly that ₹30 crore was being allocated to upgrade 3,000 looms to rapier looms (1 lakh per loom). However, the notification said that for each loom, ₹75,000 would be provided for the upgradation of 2,000 looms and ₹10 million for the upgradation of air looms.
“We have met the ministers in this regard and said that we will not use this scheme unless we get ₹1 lakh for the loom upgrade,” Mr. Velusamy said. The weavers recently met the officials concerned in Chennai and “they assured us that we will get ₹ 1 lakh per loom to upgrade 2,000 looms,” he added. An announcement is expected soon.
The weavers are waiting for the order and if ₹1 lakh is given, about 500 rapier looms will be installed in Palladam. “We have rebuilt 25 looms on a trial basis and they are operational. We are in talks with banks and textile manufacturers to get enough funds to invest and modernize the looms,” Velusamy said.
According to E. Bhoopathi, president of the Somanur Job Working Powerloom Weavers’ Association, a weaver should invest ₹ 2.5 lakh to upgrade the powerloom to a fully automatic loom. Even if the government provides a subsidy of ₹ 1 lakh, the weavers need funds for investment. “We will wait and see what the revised notification says and weavers who are interested can go for modern looms,” he said.
Published – 23 Oct 2025 19:05 IST
