Unique handloom products of Tamil Nadu are on display at the 14-day Special Handloom Expo which began here today.

As many as 55 weavers cooperative societies of the State are showcasing their products like kora cotton, Kancheerpuram and Thribuvanam pure silk, Negam cotton sarees and Chennaimalai bedsheets in 40 stalls. The expo will be on till January 12.

Inaugurating it, Municipal Administration Minister SP Velumani said a sales target of Rs 1 crore had been set.

The State Government had increased free power supply to 300 units from 100 to handloom weavers and 750 units from 500 for power loom weavers, benefiting over 15,000 people, Velumani said.

Similarly under the Green House project, 575 dwellings were constructed for handloom weavers at the cost of Rs 2.6 lakh each. An amount of Rs 3.99 lakh was given to 29 families under the family pension scheme, he said, adding that Rs 87.57 lakh was disbursed to 672 persons till October under the old age pension scheme for weavers.

Deputy Speaker Pollchi Jayaraan and District Collector TN Hariharan were among those present at the inauguration.