Tamil Nadu To Dole Out Pongal Gift Scheme To 2 Crore Beneficiaries At A Cost Of Over Rs 1,000 Cr

Nearly 2,15,6,122 ration card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils are expected to benefit from the gift hamper scheme.

TN CM Stalin distributing Pongal gift hamper | Credit: Twitter/@CMOTamilnadu

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday distributed Pongal gift hamper with 20 items to 10 rice cardholders, family cardholders and Sri Lankan Tamils in the state. The gift hamper would also be distributed in all ration shops from Tuesday. 

Nearly 2,15,6,122 ration card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils are expected to benefit from the gift hamper.

After the launch, the Chief Minister's Office taking to social media said, "In order to celebrate Pongal with joy, 2,15,67,122 rice cardholders and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees will receive Pongal gift hamper. As a launch of the scheme, TN CM Stalin distributed gift hampers to 10 families."

The gift hampers for over 2 crore people would be distributed at the cost of Rs 1,088 crore. 

The hamper would consist of 20 gift items including raw rice, cashew nuts, cardamom, jaggery, moong dal, ghee, turmeric, chili powder, mustard, jeera, pepper, tamarind, Bengal gram, wheat flour, urad dal, Rava, dry grapes, coriander powder, salt and a cloth bag.

The items would be packed in a yellow cloth bag or Manjapai. Even earlier, TN CM Stalin introduced the "Meendum Manjappai" campaign to encourage the use of eco-friendly bags against the use of plastic bags.

The Pongal festival would be celebrated from January 14 to January 17 in Tamil Nadu.