The Tamil Nadu government has instructed fair price shops to issue tokens to beneficiaries by January 2 for the smooth distribution of Pongal 2026 gift hampers. This initiative aims to streamline the process and prevent overcrowding at ration outlets. Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies M. Veerappan has directed all zonal offices to implement these guidelines.
Tokens will be distributed door-to-door to eligible rice ration cardholders and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees entitled to the annual Pongal gift hamper. Each token will specify the date and time for collection to ensure an organized distribution. Ration shops are advised to limit beneficiaries to 100 per session, with flexibility for larger shops based on available space.
To facilitate distribution, ration cards will be grouped street-wise and beneficiary-wise, with detailed lists maintained at each shop. Only fair price shop staff are authorized to distribute tokens, with police personnel prohibited from this task. Shops managing different card volumes must deploy adequate staff for efficient distribution.
The government emphasizes the importance of stocking an adequate supply of gift hampers in advance to avoid disruptions. It is mandatory for fair price shops to provide daily updates on token distribution via Google Sheets for real-time monitoring. The Pongal 2025 gift hamper included rice, sugar, sugarcane, and clothing, with a similar package expected this year, benefiting around two crore families in Tamil Nadu.
