Chennai, Dec 29 (BPNS)
AIADMK interim general secretary and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) have come out strongly against the delay of the DMK government in providing work orders to weavers for the Pongal free sari scheme. The former Chief Minister in a statement on Thursday said that the DMK government that thrives on ‘corruption, commission and collection’ and the mismanagement of the government have paralyzed the weaver’s community of the state. He said that it was doubtful whether the people of the state would get the free dhoti, and sarees during the Pongal period.
In the statement, EPS also said that the weavers were provided poor-quality cotton bales to weave the dhoti and sarees that would be distributed as part of the Pongal gift hamper.
The former Chief Minister who is presently the opposition leader in the state assembly said that instead of the work orders for the Pongal dhotis and sarees being issued in the month of July, this year it was issued to the weaver’s societies in October. He also said that the poor-quality cotton bales were distributed to the weavers in the months of November and December instead of August which was the general practice. He said that this has led to extreme difficulties for the weaver’s societies to complete the work.
He said that the DMK government which was like an ‘Octopus’ was derailing the scheme of free dhotis and sarees in the Pongal gift hampers which was implemented by the late Chief Minister and AIADMK founder, M.G. Ramachandran( MGR).
The former Chief Minister cited that many weavers societies have returned the poor quality cotton bales supplied by the government and had stated that they may be able to weave only if quality bales were provided. He said that he doubts strongly whether people will be able to get dhotis and sarees in the Pongal gift hampers.
The former Chief Minister said that the anti-people government was not only denying poor people of the legible free dhoti and sarees in the Pongal gift hampers but also taking away employment opportunities from the weaving community. He said that it was only because of the AIADMK flagging the issue, that sugarcane was included in the Pongal gift hampers.
EPS also demanded the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to raise the money in the Pongal gift hamper to Rs 5000 from the present Rs 1000 and added that this was a demand made by him (Stalin) while he was in the opposition.
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