Paid respects to Veerapandi Arumugam. Weavers migrating to other states for sustainable work #namakkunaame https://t.co/dwJCVwLrFv

Commencing his grassroots campaign in Salem district in late October 2015, DMK Treasurer M. K. Stalin paid solemn floral tributes at the memorial of the late DMK stalwart and former minister, Veerapandi S. Arumugam. Commending Arumugam's lifelong dedication to the Dravidian movement and his pivotal role in developing Salem's infrastructure, Stalin reiterated his commitment to fulfilling the veteran leader's vision for regional prosperity. Turning his attention to the severe economic crisis gripping Salem's traditional textile manufacturing belt, Stalin interacted with powerloom and handloom weaving families across several industrial clusters. Weavers expressed extreme despair over unbearable production costs driven by continuous power outages, spiralling yarn prices, and regressive commercial electricity tariffs imposed by the AIADMK administration. Deprived of regular wages and sustainable orders, hundreds of skilled weaving families were forced into distress migration to neighbouring states like Gujarat and Maharashtra to find manual work. Stalin condemned the state government for presiding over the destruction of Tamil Nadu's traditional textile base, promising that a future DMK government would provide subsidized power, stabilize yarn pricing, and create dedicated textile clusters to bring migrant weavers back home.