TN govt extends Pongal cash gift to Tiruvarur


Chennai: A day after the Election Commission rescinded by-election to the assembly constituency, the Tamilnadu government Tuesday announced that the Rs 1,000 Pongal cash gift would be extended to Tiruvarur.

In view of the model code of conduct in force ahead of the originally scheduled 28 January by-poll, the government had said the scheme, which was announced last week, would not be implemented in Tiruvarur.

In an official release said, “With the Election Commission having announced cancelling the by-poll, the government has ordered giving Rs 1000 each to 3.92 lakh families in Tiruvarur.

The AIADMK government on 2 January announced the Rs 1,000 cash and a gift hamper to every family with a ration card for the celebration of the harvest festival Pongal.

the Madras High Court has today stayed the distribution of Rs 1,000 Pongal gift cash stating that it was meant only for people living below the poverty line.