Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Potters Association Monday urged the State government to supply clay mud pots and cooking stoves freely to the rations card holders during the Pongal (harvest festival) and support those involved in the job.

Since the Government was giving free rice, sugar and dal for the festival with Rs.1,000, in order to help the potters and pottery sector to survive, the Government can provide new pots and stoves freely to the card holders, so that they can celebrate the festival in new pots.

The community (Kulalar) has a population of 40 lakh, only four lakh persons were involved in the pottery making business, the association
said in a memorandum to the district collector.

Considering the plight of the potters, particularly during the pandemic, the government should take steps to give free pots and stoves, they said.

Holding mud pots, the workers, including large number of women, also demanded that the monthly solatium of Rs.2,000 for those registered
with welfare board should be increasd to Rs.5,000, along with a bag of rices.