Thanjavur: The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, popularly known as Poompuhar, has launched a novel scheme namely ‘Illanthorum Valluvar’ (Thiruvalluvar in each house) in a bid to popularise the Tamil savant Thiruvalluvar and make him the identity of the entire Tamil community.

Under the scheme, the sale of exquisite panchaloka icons of Thiruvalluvar in various sizes has been launched through the Poompuhar showrooms located across the State. A brainchild of Dr. Santhosh Kumar, Managing Director of the corporation, the scheme, launched in November 2016, has evoked an overwhelming response from the student community.

The icons are available in six inches, 12 inches, 18 inches and 24 inches in height. They are priced from Rs. 2,999 to Rs 1.35 lakh depending on the choice of the customer.

“The 6-inch icon is sold at Rs 2,999. It weighs two kgs. The icons are available in four different sizes depending upon the requirement and choice of the customers,” says S K Rajendran, Executive Officer (Marketing), Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited, Chennai.

Thirukkural, the couplets penned by savant Thiruvalluvar, is popular worldwide. Tamils should feel proud of the savant and have his icon at their houses as the identity of the entire Tamil community. To achieve this objective, we are focusing on marketing the icons to students, teachers and headmasters of educational institutions, Rajendran added.

To promote the sale of the Thiruvalluvar icons, the corporation has now started sending circulars to all the Chief Educational Officers (CEOs) in Tamil Nadu requesting them to place orders for the supply of the icons required in their respective district. “There is an overwhelming response to it. We are getting bulk orders from some districts. The CEO in Kancheepuram has now placed an order for the supply of 320 icons,” Rajendran said.