PRESS RELEASE A review meeting on the activities of the Sericulture Department and the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation was held today (09.06.2026) at the Secretariat, Chennai, chaired by the Hon'ble Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Thiru Se. Mathan Raja. Having reviewed the Sericulture Department's activities in detail, the Minister directed that subsidy assistance be disbursed to silk farmers in a timely and transparent manner, and that department-level training be provided to educated unemployed youth and women entrepreneurs, engaging them in silk-reeling and twisting trades to strengthen the post-cocoon sector. Regarding the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, the Minister directed that arrangements be made to sell artisans' handicraft products in all districts of Tamil Nadu in order to boost sales of the State's traditional handicraft items. He also directed that all types of handicraft products be sold online at twice the volume compared to last year. The Minister also inspected panchaloha idols, brass lamps, Thanjavur art plates, Thanjavur paintings and other handicraft items produced at the manufacturing units of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi Department, Thiru Thi.N. Sengamalesh, IAS; Director of Sericulture, Smt. Ki. Santhi, IAS; Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, Smt. Su. Amirdhajothi, IAS; and other senior officials of the department. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9