Used clothes sent as relief from across the country but rejected by tsunami victims of Tamil Nadu will find new beneficiaries, official sources said on Friday.

The clothes will be donated to destitutes in the state, Jammu and Kashmir [Images] and Bihar.

Delhi-based Anshu K Gupta, who is leading a movement 'Vastra-Daan' through his voluntary group Goonj, has begun distributing the clothes stored in government godowns in Tamil Nadu.

Woollen garments and ladies' suits would be sent to poor people in Jammu and Kashmir, flood-prone areas of Assam and other northern states, while cotton garments would be distributed in Tamil Nadu.

"Over 60 per cent of the clothes would be utilised in Tamil Nadu," Gupta said.

Complete coverage: Tsunami -- The waves of destruction

The government agencies will distribute these clothes after Goonj volunteers neatly sort out the clothes into different categories like shirts, trousers, kids' wear and sarees, he said.

Twenty volunteers have already started the sorting work and more volunteers are expected to join in soon. "This is going to be Herculean task and would take at least six months to complete," Gupta added.

"In India, clothing is still a big issue. You don't need a disaster to find takers for clothes," Gupta said.