Marking the launch of 'Pongal' gift distribution scheme across the State, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday gave away the harvest festival hampers to beneficiaries here, which includes ₹1,000 cash assistance.
The gift pack, besides the cash component, comprises raw rice and sugar (one kilo each), a full piece of sugarcane in addition to a dhothi and a saree to all 'rice' category family card holders and inmates of Rehabilitation Camps for Sri Lankan Tamils (refugees).
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Stalin had announced that the festival gift would be distributed to 2,19,33,342 families at a cost of ₹2,429.05 crore. In order to implement the free dhoti and saree distribution scheme for Pongal, ₹487.92 crore was set apart.
The Chief Minister, marking the State-wide launch, distributed the gift packs to people at a fair price shop here. To avoid crowding, tokens specifying the date and time to receive the hamper have been distributed to beneficiaries.
{{/usCountry}}The Chief Minister, marking the State-wide launch, distributed the gift packs to people at a fair price shop here. To avoid crowding, tokens specifying the date and time to receive the hamper have been distributed to beneficiaries.
{{/usCountry}}State Ministers including K N Nehru (Municipal Administration), M R K Panneerselvam (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), K Ponmudi (Higher Education) and top officials took part.