The famed looms of Chendamangalam, which sank under the floods in mid-August last year, will contribute substantially to the free school uniforms project of the State government. More than 130 looms and about 57,000 metres of fabrics will be Chendamangalam’s contribution to the massive project.

The free school uniforms project was introduced three years ago and has been widely described as a measure that has helped revive the handloom sector in the State.

So far, Chendamangalam looms have contributed 1.80 lakh metres of fabrics to the project over the past three years. Though the weavers used to meet the target in the past two years, the floods derailed their plans for the new academic year.

Though the floods caused massive damage, help from voluntary agencies and a rehabilitation package by the State government helped revive the fortunes of the weavers. Hundreds of weavers had lost their finished products in the floods and about 300 looms had sustained serious damage. The State Industries Department had also taken the help of corporate entities to revive the flood-ravaged looms.

A total of about 38 lakh metres of fabrics will be distributed to students in Classes one to seven in all government schools and Classes one to four in all aided schools in the coming academic year across Kerala. It is estimated that about 8.45 lakh students in 6,500 schools will benefit from the programme.

Sources in the Industries Department said that about 60% to 70% of the fabrics had undergone dyeing and delivery had started.

It is expected that the distribution will be completed by May 31.

About 5,200 looms are involved across the State in the free school uniforms project.