The Tamil Nadu government is set to launch a welfare initiative in celebration of Pongal, the state’s harvest festival. Over 2.22 crore ration card holders, including eligible Sri Lankan Tamil families, will receive a Pongal gift hamper along with Rs 3,000 in cash. The scheme will kick off with an inauguration by M.K. Stalin at a ration shop in Chennai.
Each Pongal gift hamper will contain one kilogram of raw rice, one kilogram of sugar, and a whole sugarcane, in addition to the cash assistance. Distribution is scheduled to start promptly at all ration shops to ensure a smooth process for the public. Officials have confirmed that necessary arrangements have been finalized, and the distribution of rice, sugar, and sugarcane is closely monitored for transparency and efficiency.
The government is focusing on providing fresh sugarcane and ensuring timely delivery, with plans to supply the remaining sugarcane through district administrations. Efforts are also being made to utilize unused stocks from previous years efficiently. Police security measures are in place to manage crowds, and ration shop staff will be on duty throughout the Pongal festival period to maintain uninterrupted service.
Special arrangements have been made for hill regions, with ration shops opening early to accommodate residents’ work schedules. Token distribution has been completed to facilitate the collection of Pongal gifts, and those without tokens are advised to contact their respective ration shops for collection instructions.
