Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in support of handloom, handicraft, textile and khadi industries on Tuesday unveiled new schemes. Also steps would be taken to boost ‘Poompuhar’ for which an Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts scheme would be launched soon.

She said that the six cooperative mills in the State, modernized at Rs.175.23 crore, manufacture threads for the government’s free dhoti and saree scheme and free uniform scheme to school children.

For these mills, twister and doubling machines, comber machines and open end spinning machines would be procured at a cost of Rs.14.20 crore.

The Centre would provide Rs.17.14 crore, and the State government would provide Rs.3.24 crore for this scheme.

Jayalalithaa further said that 1,500 people were employed in the 1,357 handloom and powerloom cooperatives. Hence 50 percent subsidy would be provided towards the insurance premium of powerloom workers. It would be provided by the weavers cooperative societies.