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ABSTRACT
Pattamadai mat weavers and Fine mat products are of international repute. Though the Pattamadai mat products are enjoying a ready market both at home and abroad, there are grey areas demanding immediate attention to sustain and further improve this traditional craft and to help the Pattamadai Fine mat weavers to achieve new heights. In the present study, we have analysed the socio-economic profile and the problems of Mat weavers in Pattamadai of Tirunelveli District. This study is based on both primary and secondary data sources. A primary survey was conducted in Pattamadai consisting of 40 respondents chosen randomly. The study results revealed that the situation of the weavers was worrying due to illiteracy, financial constraints, health problems, meager remuneration and poor Government support.
1. INTRODUCTION
The State of Tamilnadu, The traditional Pattamadai Mat (pai) is made from reeds that grow on the banks of the river Tamiraparani in southern Tamil Nadu woven with cotton or Mat threads. Pattamadai alone produces such fine mats because of the cultivation of a particular kind of grass (Cyperuscorymbosus Rottb) in the village. Pattamadai pai for sleeping or sitting on the floor! This mat is a wall hanging from famous Pattamadai, a village on the bank of Tamraparni river in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The communities that make the mats are predominantly Muslim and have been in that region for a long time. Traditionally women weave these mats in hand looms and depending on the length or fineness one mat can take up to couple of months. This is the only place where they make the Mat (pattu pai) with very fine grass bunch and Mat threads The mat weaving industry used synthetic dyes for coloring its internationally acclaimed rugs, is all set to use an eco-friendly colorant. The traditional colours used are red, green and black and the weaves can reach up to the maximum 140 counts in the Mat or pattu mat. The old pattern consisted mainly of stripes at the two ends or streaks through the body (Resemble the Jamakkaalam).
It is world famous for its Korai mats. Many weavers have received national awards from the President of India for their unparalleled skill in mat weaving. Pattamadai Pattu Paai has been sent to Queen...