CM Stalin inaugurates Pongal gift package with Rs 3,000 cash

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday inaugurated the distribution of the Pongal gift package along with Rs. 3,000 cash at Alandur in Chennai, marking the formal launch of the State-wide programme.
As part of the Pongal celebrations, the Tamil Nadu government is providing a gift package comprising one kilogram of raw rice, one kilogram of sugar and one full-length sugarcane, along with Rs. 3,000 in cash, to a total of 2,22,91,710 rice family card holders across the State, including families residing in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation
camps.
The inauguration event at Alandur was attended by Minister for Cooperation K R Periyakaruppan, Minister for Health M Subramanian, Members of Parliament T R Baalu and Tamilachi Thangapandian, and Chief Secretary Muruganandam, among others.
Simultaneously, ministers in various districts across Tamil Nadu launched the distribution of Pongal gift packages and cash assistance to eligible family card holders. Along with the Pongal gift items, free dhotis and sarees are also being distributed to all beneficiary families through fair price shops.
Earlier, the distribution of tokens for collecting the Pongal gift packages began last Monday. Employees of fair price shops distributed tokens door to door to beneficiaries, indicating the date and time for collection.
Tokens were also issued to family card holders who visited ration shops to purchase essential
commodities.
The State government said the scheme aims to ensure that Pongal, the harvest festival of Tamils, is celebrated joyfully by all sections of society and provides financial support to families ahead of the festive season.