Power loom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), Chairman Duraisamy is of the view that the number of products reserved for handloom textile item has already been reduced from 21 items to 11. But for the products that require intricate skills, the restriction must be lifted for other items for which the handloom sector is unable to meet the demand.

The power loom sector in the region has voiced its demand for further reduction in the number of products reserved for handloom textile items.

According to industry sources, Tamil Nadu, with five lakh power looms, ranks next only to Maharashtra which has the highest of eight lakh power looms. The Western part of Tamil Nadu accounts for most of the power looms centred in and around Palladam, Avinashi, Somanur, Tiruchengode, Karur, Salem and Komarapalayam.

Though 22 lakh handlooms are stated to exist in the country as against 24 lakh power looms, the productivity is quite low in handloom. A bulk of the handlooms are in the North-Eastern States where women weavers mostly engage themselves as a part-time activity.

The textile items reserved for handlooms include saris with extra warp and extra weft designs, saris with solid coloured woven boarder, tie and dye saris, dhotis, towel and ‘angawastram’, lungi, ‘jamakkalam durry, and shawl.

There are, however, apprehensions expressed by votaries of handloom sector based at Chennimalai that dilution of the Handloom Reservation Act will ruin the sector.

According to official sources, the Central Government has constituted a committee to amend the Handloom Reservation Act, to pave way for removing some items from the list.