The festive spirit of Pongal received a significant boost across Tamil Nadu as the state government commenced the large-scale distribution of special Pongal gift packages. Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the statewide initiative from Chennai on Thursday, setting in motion a welfare drive that will benefit millions of families.
Statewide Launch and Madurai's Share
Following the chief minister's inauguration, the distribution process began actively in Trichy and the delta districts. In Madurai, the responsibility was spearheaded by Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration, P Moorthy. The district is set to see a massive outreach, with 9,46,728 ration card holders scheduled to receive the festive hampers. This distribution will be facilitated through a network of 1,389 fair price shops across Madurai.
The financial commitment for this initiative in Madurai alone stands at a substantial ₹287.61 crore. Minister Moorthy emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the scheme, particularly highlighting the provision of ₹3,000 as direct cash assistance to each beneficiary, calling it an unprecedented move.
Trichy and Delta Districts Kick Off Distribution
In Trichy district, the launch was officiated by Municipal Administration Minister K N Nehru and School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The scheme here encompasses a vast number of beneficiaries, with 8,36,824 rice family card holders eligible for the gifts. The distribution network in Trichy involves 1,302 fair price shops.
Minister Nehru personally launched the distribution at multiple key locations including Uraiyur Housing Unit, Alwarthoppu, Bheema Nagar, Heber Road Elephant Shed Ground, Periyamilaguparai, Edamalaiyapatti Pudhur, and Kirappatti. Simultaneously, Minister Poyyamozhi oversaw the proceedings at fair price shops in Mudaliyar Chatram and Kajapettai.
Comprehensive Coverage and Local Sourcing
The Pongal gift package is uniform for all eligible recipients. Each rice family card holder is entitled to receive 1kg of raw rice, 1kg of sugar, one full sugarcane, and ₹3,000 in cash. In a significant humanitarian gesture, the benefits of this scheme have also been extended to families residing in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps.
Highlighting the support for local agriculturists, district officials confirmed that the full-length sugarcane included in the hampers has been procured directly from 312 local sugarcane farmers, ensuring immediate distribution and supporting the local economy.
The distribution drive spans the entire delta region with impressive numbers:
- Thanjavur district: 7,10,131 ration card holders via 1,260 shops.
- Tiruvarur district: 3,95,453 ration card holders via 800 shops.
- Mayiladuthurai district: 2,87,390 ration card holders via 422 shops.
- Nagapattinam district: 2,19,309 ration card holders via 390 shops.
In total, across these five delta districts, more than 24 lakh ration card holders have begun receiving their Pongal kits. The total financial outlay for the entire statewide scheme is a monumental ₹6,936.17 crore, underscoring the government's large-scale festive welfare commitment.
