Co-optex closure: Anbumani urges Tamil Nadu to retain 10 showrooms
Synopsis
PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss has flagged a quiet but consequential decision: Tamil Nadu is reportedly shutting 10 Co-optex showrooms across multiple states, citing falling sales. With the institution down from 200 to roughly 150 outlets in a decade, and its centenary in 2035, the closures raise uncomfortable questions about whether the government's TVK manifesto promises for handloom revival are more than rhetoric.
Key Takeaways
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on 18 August demanded the Tamil Nadu government withdraw its reported plan to close 10 Co-optex showrooms .
Affected outlets are in Cuddalore , Salem , Vellore , Tirunelveli , Andhra Pradesh , and Maharashtra .
Co-optex , founded in 1935 , has seen its outlet count fall from around 200 in 2015-16 to approximately 150 by 2025-26 , according to Anbumani.
The closures are reportedly linked to declining sales and a downsizing exercise.
Anbumani called out a contradiction between the ruling TVK 's manifesto promise of new 'Vetri Loom' showrooms and the current closures.
He urged the government to expand Co-optex's network and modernise it through e-commerce and updated marketing strategies.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday, 18 August called on the Tamil Nadu government to reverse its reported decision to shut down 10 Co-optex showrooms, warning that the closures would directly threaten the livelihoods of thousands of handloom weavers across the state.
What Is Being Closed and Where
According to Anbumani, the affected outlets are located in Cuddalore, Salem, Vellore, and Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, as well as locations in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. He said some showrooms had already been shuttered, sales had been suspended at others, and procurement had reportedly been halted at the remaining outlets — which were expected to close within weeks.
The decision was reportedly driven by declining sales, falling revenue, and an organisational downsizing exercise.
Co-optex: A Legacy Institution Under Strain
Co-optex, the commercial brand of the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society, was established in 1935 to market handloom products and improve the economic standing of weavers. Once a trusted destination for government employees and middle- and lower-income households, the institution has seen a steady erosion of its retail footprint.
Anbumani claimed that Co-optex operated around 200 outlets in 2015-16 — including 133 in Tamil Nadu and 67 in other states and overseas markets. By 2025-26, that number had reportedly fallen to approximately 150, reflecting a decade of declining reach.
Anbumani's Critique: Neglect and Policy Failure
The PMK leader alleged that Co-optex's current difficulties stem from years of institutional neglect and policies that, he argued, indirectly favoured private textile companies at the expense of the cooperative sector. He emphasised that Co-optex showrooms should not be assessed purely on commercial metrics, given their role as a lifeline for handloom weavers.
'If this situation continues, Co-optex, which is expected to celebrate its centenary in 2035, may be forced to shut down,' Anbumani warned, urging urgent revival measures.
Contradiction With TVK's Election Promises
Anbumani also pointed to what he described as a contradiction between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)'s election manifesto and its current actions. The party had reportedly promised to establish 'Vetri Loom' showrooms in all major cities and launch a dedicated e-commerce brand to market Tamil Nadu's handloom products internationally. Closing existing stores while pledging new ones, he argued, exposed an inconsistency between the government's commitments and on-ground decisions.
What Anbumani Is Demanding
The PMK leader urged the Tamil Nadu government to retain all 10 showrooms slated for closure, expand the Co-optex network by opening additional outlets across Tamil Nadu and other states, and modernise the organisation through e-commerce integration, updated marketing strategies, and improved sales mechanisms.
The government is yet to formally respond to the demands. With Co-optex's centenary a decade away, the decisions taken in the coming weeks could determine whether the institution survives long enough to mark that milestone.
Point of View
But the harder question is structural: Co-optex has been losing ground for a decade, and neither the DMK nor its predecessors have offered a credible modernisation plan. The TVK manifesto's 'Vetri Loom' promise, if genuine, should have made closing existing stores the last resort, not the first response to falling revenues. Handloom cooperatives across India face the same squeeze — private fast-fashion competition, weak e-commerce presence, and ageing customer bases — and piecemeal closures only accelerate the death spiral. The Tamil Nadu government owes weavers a transparent audit of Co-optex's finances and a time-bound revival plan, not a quiet downsizing.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tamil Nadu reportedly closing 10 Co-optex showrooms?
The closures are reportedly being driven by declining sales, falling revenue, and an organisational downsizing exercise, according to PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss. The affected outlets span Tamil Nadu cities including Cuddalore, Salem, Vellore, and Tirunelveli, as well as locations in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
What is Co-optex and why does it matter to handloom weavers?
Co-optex is the commercial brand of the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers' Cooperative Society, established in 1935 to market handloom products and support weavers economically. It has historically served as a primary sales channel for thousands of handloom weavers, making its financial health directly tied to their livelihoods.
How many Co-optex outlets are there and how has the number changed?
According to Anbumani Ramadoss, Co-optex had around 200 outlets in 2015-16, including 133 in Tamil Nadu and 67 in other states and overseas. By 2025-26, that number had reportedly fallen to approximately 150.
What is the contradiction Anbumani pointed out regarding the TVK manifesto?
Anbumani noted that the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's election manifesto had promised to open 'Vetri Loom' showrooms in all major cities and build a dedicated e-commerce brand for Tamil Nadu handloom products. He argued that closing existing Co-optex outlets while making such pledges reveals an inconsistency between the government's stated commitments and its current decisions.
What has Anbumani Ramadoss demanded from the Tamil Nadu government?
He has urged the government to retain all 10 showrooms slated for closure, expand the Co-optex network with additional outlets in Tamil Nadu and other states, and modernise the institution through e-commerce, updated marketing, and improved sales strategies.
