# Puthiamputhur

Puthiamputhur is a town in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Puthiamputhur is a small town located in the Ottapidaram taluk of Tuticorin district. It is 17 km from west of Tuticorin, 4 km south of Ottapidaram and 15 km north of Puthukkottai. 613 km from 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 good name for the (koyya) Guava fruits. The entire south districts occupied the "Puthiamputhur Koyya" with specified name in the markets. Because of the reason is that the land was having different kind of magical soil for producing the fruits and also having fantastic tastes by nature of soil. The guava fruits were two types of cultivation. one is red guava and another one is white guava (Seeni guava), mostly the white guava size will be up normal and very big as like coconut.

### 1950s

One of historical place is Weekly Goat Market, which is one of the oldest weekly goat market 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 access and an ideal location for all nearby villages within a 20-kilometer radius. People across from the Tuticorin district would use the market to buy and sell all the house hold items with cheapest and negotiable price. Now, the Weekly Market is primarily used for trading goats, and it is a reminder of the historical importance of the region.

### 1970s

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

### Readymade manufacturing

In 1954, Mr. Alagusundaram pioneered the readymade garment manufacturing process in Puthiamputhur. He began by establishing a garments factory in small level. 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 skart and blouses. The Everyday wearing regular garments were manufactured locally and traded throughout Tamil Nadu.

### After 1984

Around 27 garments factories started in the year of 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 trade mark because of the better quality and cheapest price. The garment industry development was unbelievable and people started to depend their life with the Garment industry through contributing as a worker or Trader. The readymade business take the village to next level of its era..

### 2000 to 2010s

Expanded around 200 small scale factories were in the period of 2000 to 2004 Puthiamputhur. These garments factories started to sell their own manufacturing products throughout Tamil Nadu. It was made an unexpected growth of garments industry in Puthiamputhur. This is the peak time for industry and attracted more people to involve into the business. New Entrepreneur comes to the industry and contributed major part of overall supplies in Tamil Nadu.

### 2005 to 2006

It was the critical crisis period for Puthiamputhur in the Cloths manufacturing industry. Around 60 companies were consolidated their business in this period. Rest of the companies out of 200 companies involved financial crisis problems and other major problems like Man power 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 are everyone 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 produced dresses are going to sell including Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Andrapradesh, Karnadaka etc. Puthiamputhur is having goodwill in the garments industry.

## Employment

Around 10,000 people are working in the garments industry. Piece rate methods are following here. Weekly and Monthly Labour wages payment method. Labor scarce problem is notable one. In the crisis period, maximum numbers of peoples were went back to their old Job and shifted their work to other industry. The lack of workers problem was very difficult to manage by the owners. Hence the clothes stitching charges has been changed as above 100% (Rate per piece). The stitching charges increasing year on year. Retaining the employees is very difficult to handle. Companies encouraging branches out of Puthiamputhur and Work from Home Model. Now lot of sub-branches are running in our district.
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 are having 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

## 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)