Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Sunday launched a scheme here to provide low-cost sarees to poor women.

"In the seventies, low-cost Janata Saree was launched. But the scheme did not last long due to financial constraints. We have again taken an initiative to reintroduce such a scheme," Bhattacharjee said at the programme promoted by state-owned handloom development agency Tantuja.

The state government will provide subsidy to a saree worth Rs 150-170 to sell it to the women living below the poverty line at Rs 80-104, officials said.

Initially 70,000 sarees have been made available, sources said.