Chennai, July 7 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government has announced a major revamp of the free dhotis and sarees distributed under its annual Pongal gift scheme, introducing improved fabric quality, enhanced durability and a wider range of colours for the 2027 edition.

The move marks the first significant upgrade to the scheme in more than a decade and is expected to benefit both beneficiaries and the state’s handloom sector.

Under the revised specifications, the free sarees will feature a higher cotton content, making them more comfortable to wear, particularly during the summer months.

Officials said the redesigned sarees will be woven using improved 60s poly-cotton yarn with an 80:20 polyester-cotton ratio, replacing the earlier 90:10 blend.

The sarees will also feature silver or copper-coloured polyester borders and will now be available in green in addition to the existing shades of light blue, pink and ivory white.

The government has also upgraded the quality of the free dhotis. They will now be woven using improved 40s grey poly-cotton yarn with a 65:35 polyester-cotton ratio instead of the earlier 80:20 mix.

Each dhoti will measure two metres in length and 50 inches in width, feature coloured polyester borders and, for the first time, will be supplied after washing.

The sarees will continue to measure 5.5 metres in length and 45 inches in width.

According to a Government Order issued by the Department of Handlooms and Khadi on July 1, the redesigned garments will be produced through handloom and powerloom weavers’ cooperative societies.

Officials said the improved specifications would not only enhance the quality and appearance of the garments but also increase yarn production in cooperative spinning mills and streamline manufacturing. The production target for Pongal 2027 has been retained at 177.64 lakh sarees and 177.22 lakh dhotis, unchanged from the previous three years.

Although district collectors had sought more than 2.27 crore sarees and 2.25 crore dhotis based on projected demand, the government decided against increasing production due to the limited time available for introducing the new designs.

Co-optex and the Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation will procure the garments from cooperative weaving societies and supply them to the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation for distribution.

The government has also permitted yarn procurement through short-term tenders to ensure timely production. The total cost of the Pongal 2027 scheme has been estimated at Rs 642.88 crore.

Of the Rs 606.94 crore earmarked in the 2026-27 State Budget, the government has already released Rs 300 crore as the first instalment to begin production.

Unsold stock from the 2026 Pongal scheme will be distributed to old-age pension beneficiaries during Deepavali this year, while the remaining stock will be used for other government purposes.

Welcoming the initiative, handloom weavers of Salem said that the redesigned garments would improve their overall appeal while the early release of funds would help ensure timely payments to weavers, benefiting both producers and the public receiving the Pongal gift package.

–IANS

aal/rad