Pongal Gift Hamper Announced

Chennai: The State government has announced the distribution of Pongal gift hampers to 2,19,57,402 beneficiaries comprising family card holders and residents of rehabilitation camps for Sri Lankan Tamils in the State.

Under the gift hamper scheme, the beneficiaries would receive 1 kg of raw rice, 1 kg sugar and one full length of sugarcane, which would cost over Rs 238.92 crore to the exchequer, a Government Order issued on Wednesday said.

Reacting to the announcement, opposition party leaders flayed the government for not paying cash to the beneficiaries to enable them celebrate Pongal properly.

PMK founder S Ramadoss urged the government to pay Rs 1000 cash assistance to the beneficiaries as it was done in 2020 during the AIADMK regime. Regretting that the DMK government cancelled the cash assistance after it came to power, he said at least certain condiments like palm sugar, cashew nuts, raisins and ghee were provided earlier.

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan wanted the government to pay Rs 2000 cash as assistance to the people to celebrate Pongal properly and also provide the condiments that were given earlier.