Hailing their contribution, she said the women had nurtured the industry while balancing household responsibilities.
FM Nirmala Sitharaman ( File Photo: ANI)
Predominantly led by women, the match industry has grown from a small-scale cottage enterprise into a major sector in the arid regions of Kovilpatti and Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
Hailing their contribution, she said the women had nurtured the industry while balancing household responsibilities.
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“In this arid and perennially drought-prone rain shadow region, there is no relief from water scarcity. The pride in this gradual transformation belongs to every woman,” she noted.
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She was addressing the Centenary Celebration of the Tamil Nadu Matchbox Industry at Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, as part of her outreach to trade and industry associations in the state to explain the benefits of GST reforms, set to come into force on September 22.
The Sivakasi region, a hub for fireworks and printing, is famously known as ‘Little Japan’ for its entrepreneurship and industrious spirit, though it has long faced challenges such as child labour. Meanwhile, Kovilpatti and Sattur have earned recognition as the citadel of the match industry, with women forming the backbone of its workforce.
Acknowledging their contribution, the Finance Minister said women had reshaped the industry and the region’s profile despite the challenges of sustaining their families.
Calling upon the industry to “dream big,” she urged stakeholders to present a vision for 2047 and contribute to India’s growth in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aspirations.
Earlier in the day, Sitharaman visited the famed Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple in Madurai, where she was accorded full temple honours.
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