The Tamil Nadu government has issued a Government Order allocating ₹248 crore to provide Pongal gift packages to beneficiaries across the State ahead of the harvest festival.Under the decision, around 2.22 crore rice ration card holders, along with families living in Sri Lankan Tamil resettlement centres, will receive the traditional Pongal gift package through fair price shops.
Each package will include 1 kilogram of raw rice, 1 kilogram of sugar and a full-length sugarcane, purchased using the allocated funds to ensure uniform distribution.
The Government Order also instructs authorities to expedite the printing and distribution of tokens for the gift packages so that recipients can collect their items smoothly through ration outlets ahead of the festival.