Chennai, Sept 1:
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday defended its decision to distribute four-yard bleached dhotis under the Pongal gift scheme, saying a State-wide opinion poll showed that most people preferred the shorter dhoti over the eight-yard unbleached variety.
Minister for Textiles and Handlooms M Vijay Balaji told the Assembly that the department had conducted opinion polls to determine public preference between eight-yard unbleached dhotis and four-yard bleached dhotis.
“Most people voted in favour of four-yard dhotis,” the Minister said, explaining the government’s decision to provide the shorter version during the coming Pongal festival.
The change has also raised concerns over its possible impact on handloom weavers. Responding to a query from DMK MLA S Austin during a Special Calling Attention motion, Balaji said a sudden change in dhoti length could require weavers to alter the dimensions of their looms.
Such a change, he said, could potentially affect their livelihood.
However, the Minister maintained that the State’s weavers had accepted the new initiative and asserted that there would be no adverse impact on their work.
He also turned the issue into a political comparison, suggesting that Opposition members could continue wearing the eight-yard dhotis distributed during the previous DMK regime while members of the Treasury benches would wear the new four-yard bleached dhotis.
The government has decided to implement the change as part of the free Pongal gift scheme, replacing the earlier eight-yard variety.
The Minister said the final decision was based on the feedback received from people across the State and maintained that the new design would meet public preference while ensuring continuity of the welfare scheme.