After agriculture, the handloom sector was the largest employer in Puducherry with over 10,000 workers registered with the 13 primary weavers’ cooperative societies of Pontex. Similarly, the Pondicherry Cooperative Handloom Export Development Project, popularly known as Ponfab, was established in the 1980s to cater to the overseas markets. But all these major handloom weavers’ bodies are now in serious financial crisis. “The apex cooperative weavers’ society at Thattanchavady has 100 looms. The situation is similar in all weavers’ cooperative societies in Puducherry.

Source: The Hindu April 16, 2017 18:21 UTC