The Tamil Nadu government has announced a significant overhaul of the free dhotis and sarees provided as part of its annual Pongal gift scheme for 2027. The revamp includes better fabric quality, increased durability, and a wider array of colors. This marks the first major enhancement to the scheme in over a decade, aiming to benefit both recipients and the state’s handloom sector.
The improved sarees will now have a higher cotton content, ensuring greater comfort, especially in hot weather. They will be woven using enhanced 60s poly-cotton yarn with an 80:20 polyester-cotton ratio, replacing the previous 90:10 blend. Additionally, the sarees will sport silver or copper-colored polyester borders and will be offered in green along with the existing light blue, pink, and ivory white shades.
The quality of the free dhotis has also been upgraded. They will now be woven using superior 40s grey poly-cotton yarn with a 65:35 polyester-cotton ratio, instead of the earlier 80:20 mix. Each dhoti will be two meters long and 50 inches wide, featuring colored polyester borders and will be supplied post-washing for the first time.
According to a Government Order issued by the Department of Handlooms and Khadi on July 1, the redesigned garments will be manufactured through handloom and powerloom weavers’ cooperative societies. The new specifications are expected to enhance the appearance and quality of the garments, boost yarn production in cooperative spinning mills, and streamline manufacturing processes.
Officials have maintained the production target for Pongal 2027 at 177.64 lakh sarees and 177.22 lakh dhotis, the same as the previous three years. Despite district collectors requesting over 2.27 crore sarees and 2.25 crore dhotis based on anticipated demand, the government opted not to increase production due to time constraints for introducing the new designs.
Co-optex and the Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation will procure the garments from cooperative weaving societies and deliver them to the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation for distribution. Yarn procurement will be facilitated through short-term tenders to ensure timely production. The total estimated cost of the Pongal 2027 scheme stands at Rs 642.88 crore, with Rs 300 crore already released from the 2026-27 State Budget for initial 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 serve other government purposes. Handloom weavers in Salem have welcomed the initiative, expressing that the redesigned garments will enhance their appeal and the prompt fund release will facilitate timely payments, benefiting both weavers and the public receiving the Pongal gift package.
