CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday commenced distribution of free sarees and dhotis for Pongal festival. Seven beneficiaries received them from the Chief Minister at the Secretariat.During this year, 1,70,-84,000 sarees and 1,69,-75,000 dhotis will be distributed. The CM has already allocated Rs 350 crore towards this scheme. The scheme was launched by former CM M G Ramac-handran in 1981 to provide employment opportunities to the handloom weavers and also to clear the stocks of clothes that remained unsold for a long period.With a view to providing quality sarees and dhotis to the needy, Jayalalithaa, during her previous tenure, ordered that sarees and dhotis should be produced by mixing cotton and polyester yarn. In 2005, the scheme was extended to a larger section of the people. Last week, the CM directed officials to complete the distribution of free dhotis and saris to the people between Pongal and Tamil New Year Day. The CM had directed that the production of the clothes should be monitored closely. There was delay in calling for tenders to procure the yarn for producing the dhotis and sarees as the model code of conduct was in force between March 1, 2011 and May 15, 2011 for the Assembly elections and between September 22 and October 21, 2011 for the local body polls.
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