Chief Minister M.K. Stalin kicked off the distribution of Pongal gift hampers and Rs 3,000 cash aid for over 2.22 crore rice ration card holders and eligible Sri Lankan Tamil families in Tamil Nadu. The scheme was inaugurated at a fair price shop in Alandur, near Nazarathpet in Chennai, with the presence of ministers and officials from relevant departments.
Each beneficiary family will receive a Pongal gift hamper comprising one kilogram of raw rice, one kilogram of sugar, and a full sugarcane, along with Rs 3,000 cash assistance. Beneficiaries can collect their cash and gift hampers from ration shops based on allotted time-slots following the launch.
Authorities have ensured meticulous arrangements for the smooth and timely distribution of gifts and cash assistance across the state. The required rice and sugar for the gift hampers have already been dispatched to all ration shops in Tamil Nadu, as confirmed by officials overseeing the preparatory work.
Efforts are in place to distribute fresh green sugarcane, with district administrations coordinating procurement and supply to ensure sufficient availability at each outlet. Police security has been deployed in areas with multiple ration shops to manage crowds, and ration shop staff are instructed to openly hand over the cash assistance to beneficiaries.
Ration shops in hilly regions will open at 6 a.m. to cater to the needs of those leaving early for work. Measures have been taken to avoid inconvenience during distribution, with token distribution for collecting Pongal gifts already completed. Beneficiaries without tokens are advised to contact their respective ration shops for collection on specified dates.
