Puthiamputhur

Puthiamputhur is a town in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Puthiamputhur Podhi Amathoor
Town
Nickname:  Readymade City
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Thoothukudi district
Government
• Type	Panchayat
• Body	Ottapidaram taluk
Population  (2011)
• Total	8,012[1]
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Telephone code	91- 461
Vehicle registration	TN 69
Website	http://www.puthiamputhur.com/

Puthiamputhur is a small town located in the Ottapidaram taluk of Tuticorin district. It is 17 km west of Tuticorin, 4 km south of Ottapidaram, and 15 km north of Puthukkottai. 613 km from the State capital Chennai. The Puthiamputhur is known as Thennagathin Tirupur, Kutty Jappan, and Readymade City. Around 5000 families live in this area.

History

Before 1950s-

Puthiamputhur was originally called Pothiamathur (Pothi meaning "load" + Amathur meaning "resting area"). Before 1950, there were no buses for travel, so people used donkeys and cows for trade and personal journeys. It was an intersection roadway of the Thoothukudi-Maniyachi and Pudukottai-Ottapidaram routes, making it an ideal place for travelers and walkers to take rest during long journeys. This is why the village was called Pothiamathur. Over time, the name evolved step by step to Pothimuthoor, and eventually, it became known as Puthiamputhur (As per government record "Pudiyamputhur"). However, North Indians often refer to it as "Puthimbatore," likely due to their pronunciation.

After 1950s

It was the time to very famous for Guava (koyya) fruit. The fruits were producing in the area, huge and also having a good name for the (koyya) Guava fruits. The entire south districts occupied the "Puthiamputhur Koyya" with a specified name in the markets. The reason is that the land had different kinds of magical soil for producing the fruits, and also had fantastic taste due to the nature of the soil. The guava fruits were of two types of cultivation. One is red guava, and another is white guava (Seeni guava). Mostly, the white guava size will be up to normal and very big, like a coconut.

1950s

One of the historical places is the Weekly Goat Market, which is one of the oldest weekly goat markets in the district. This market operates every Wednesday and requires a token purchase for entry. In the 1950s, the market was a special location for purchasing a variety of items, including goats, cows, chickens, pots, iron materials, fruits, clothing, sarees, luxury, and domestic products. The market was located at the center point of the village, and it was connected to all the main roads to Thoothukudi, Pudukottai via Thattaparai, Ottapidaram, Maniyacchi, and Puthurpandiapuram. This place was easier to access and an ideal location for all nearby villages within a 20-kilometer radius. People across the Tuticorin district would use the market to buy and sell all the household items at the cheapest and negotiable prices. Now, the Weekly Market is primarily used for trading goats, and it is a reminder of the historical importance of the region.

1970s

This period is a very peak time for cultivating flowers. Particularly Samanki, Pichi, Malli, etc. In those days, the samanki flowers oil was extracted and packed in Tin bottles, which were exported to foreign countries from the Puthiamputhur. Even though the biggest part of the flower cultivation was there, the flower Market prices were determined by the Puthiamputhur traders in Tuticorin District. Due to uncertain factors like climate change, seasonal rain failures, and not being able to continue flower cultivation peacefully.

Readymade manufacturing

In 1954, Mr. Alagusundaram pioneered the readymade garment manufacturing process in Puthiamputhur. He began by establishing a garment factory on a small scale. Initially, he employed only four tailors. The success of this venture encouraged him to expand his business, marking the beginning of the cloth manufacturing industry in this area. Subsequently, his brothers, Mr. Durai Raja and Mr. Maharaja, joined Mr. Alagusundaram's business, working alongside him. Their collective efforts yielded substantial profits. This success spurred the growth of the industry, leading to many new entrepreneurs entering the readymade manufacturing business, including Mr. Pichiah and Mr. Thangalingam. The factory's main products included items such as underwear, petticoats, trousers, tap trousers, jippa shirts, umbrella skirts, and blouses. The Everyday wearing of regular garments was manufactured locally and traded throughout Tamil Nadu.

After 1984

Around 27 garment factories were started in 1984. They purchased their raw material mainly from Madurai & Chennai. They used to sell their goods all over South Tamil Nadu. Puthiyamputhur readymade got a trademark because of the better quality and the cheapest price. The garment industry development was unbelievable, and people started to depend on the Garment industry for their livelihood through contributing as a worker or Trader. The readymade business takes the village to the next level of its era.

2000 to 2010s

Around 200 small-scale factories were established in the period of 2000 to 2004, Puthiamputhur. These garment factories started to sell their own manufacturing products throughout Tamil Nadu. An unexpected growth of the garment industry in Puthiamputhur. This is the peak time for the industry and attracts more people to get involved in the business. Entrepreneurs come to the industry and contribute a major part of the overall supplies in Tamil Nadu.

2005 to 2006

It was the critical crisis period for Puthiamputhur in the clothing manufacturing industry. Around 60 companies consolidated their business in this period. The rest of the companies out of 200 companies involved financial crisis problems and other major problems like Manpower shortage, Heavy market competition, Failure of work from home Model, Price negotiation, Compromising on quality, Accumulation of higher Production volume, Lower Sales volume, Decreasing buying capacity, unbalanced Payment cycling from buyers, etc.

Now

They have succeeded with their life journey. Around 10,000 people are living by the Puthiamputhur garments industry. The employees may earn Rs . 5,000 to Rs . 20,000/month. Puthiamputhur is contributing 40% (approximately) of Readymade dresses in Tamil Nadu. Above 250 companies are running now. In which states are dresses going to sell, including Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc. Puthiamputhur has goodwill in the garments industry.

They are: Tuticorin, Vallinayagapuram, Naduvakkurichy, Jambulingapuram, Muppilivetti, Ottapidaram, Rajavinkovil, S.Puthur, Kailasapuram, Savarimangalam, Thattaparai, Puthukottai, Siloncolany, Sekkarakkudi, Verapandiapuram, Vellaram, Pasuvanthanai, Kovilpatti, Kulathur, Vilathikulam, Mappilaiyurani, Sillanatham, Saminatham, Melavittan, Madathur, Perurani, Umarikadu, Earal, Aaral, etc. All of these areas have branches of Puthiamputhur companies.

Overview

Above 250 ready-made garments private companies, 3 Elementary schools, 2 higher secondary schools, 3 children's schools, 1 Government hospital, and 5 Private hospitals and Medicals. police station, Panchayat office, Union office. Government library. Lodge, Cinema theater, Petrol bunks, Government technical training centre, 3 Churches and lot of Hindu temples, Islam masuthi, Rice mills, Power plant, private banks, society bank, TMB BANK ATM and AXIS BANK ATM centres, 2 financial institutions, 3 government ration stores, government tax centre, government health centre, Government wastage utilizing centre, Typewriting centre, around 20 Women's self associations, jewellery shops etc.

Religion

• Pathrakaliamman Temple
• C.S.I St. John The Baptist Church^[2]

Transportation

Puthiamputhur to chennai transportation facility is available. This town is well connected to Kovilpatti, Ottapidaram & Thoothukudi and direct transportation speciality to Madurai, Tirunelveli, Eral, Tiruchendur & etc..

How to Reach

Below Listed the Railway stations to reach Puthiyamputhur

• Kailasapuram Railway Station (8Km)
• Tattapparai Railway Station (4Km)
• Tuticorin Railway Station (17Km)