Potters want Rs 3L relief to resume business

“More than 50,000 potter families were devastated by the cyclone. Kilns used to make pottery were completely damaged in the cyclone and the raw materials were washed away,” said Sema Narayanan, state president, Tamil Nadu Pottery Workers Welfare Association, while addressing the media, after submitting the petition.

Cyclone Gaja wreaked havoc in 12 districts of the state in which the agriculture sector was widely affected. Along withagriculture, allied sectors were also hit and one among them was pottery.

Narayanan said that the lamps kept ready for sales during Karthigai Deepam and other clay items including pots, utensils and earthen stoves were completely washed away in the cyclone. The potters, who were manufacturing pottery in large numbers due to Pongal had to face severe loss after Cyclone Gaja washed away their stock.

He further said that to help the potters regroup and to start their businesses back the state government should provide at least Rs 3 lakh per family which includes the cost of a kiln, which costs around Rs 2 lakh and the cost of the raw materials, which costs around Rs 50,000. The state government should also provide motorised wheels for potters, demanded Narayanan.