Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday announced a Rs 3,000 cash gift for families holding rice category ration cards and for all families residing in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps, as part of the state governmentās Pongal festival assistance.Ahead of the harvest festival, the Chief Minister said beneficiaries would receive a Pongal gift hamper through Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets. The hamper will include one kilogram each of rice and sugar, one sugarcane, along with the Rs 3,000 cash assistance. In addition, each family will be provided with a dhoti and a saree, he announced.
The Pongal assistance aims to support families during the festive season and help them meet festival-related expenses. The scheme covers all households holding rice ration cards and extends benefits to Sri Lankan Tamil families living in rehabilitation camps across the state.
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had stated that the Pongal gift distribution would benefit over 2.22 crore rice-card holder families, along with inmates of Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps.
The annual Pongal gift scheme is a key welfare initiative of the state government and is intended to ensure that the festive celebrations reach households across income groups, particularly the economically weaker sections.