Handloom weavers block Tenkasi-Madurai road

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Continuing with their stir to draw the attention of the Tamil Nadu government to implement their demands, the handloom weavers resorted to a road blockade stir on Saturday.

The agitation, which included womenfolk from the vicinity, started off on a procession from Ambalapuli bazaar and converged through State Bank and Tenkasi Road. They laid a siege near the Rajapalayam south police station.

For well over 30 minutes, traffic went for a toss on the Tenkasi-Madurai road. Police personnel arrived at the spot and pacified. However, the demonstrators demanded permanent solution to their demands.

Speaking to media persons, the organisers said that they had sought wage hike, relief package to the extent of Rs 50000 to the families which lost jobs for over four months, sought hike in pension to Rs 4000 and among others.

The Tamil Nadu government had recently announced to procure handloom sarees from the weavers’ cooperative societies for which the weavers urged to disburse a wage revision of ₹250.

They said that the agitation would continue until the government gave an assurance. The TVK president and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay had promised to look into their demands during electioneering, they added.

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