Tamil Nadu to Launch Rs 3,000 Pongal Gift Scheme

• 08 Jan 2026
• 781 Views

As part of Tamil Nadu’s harvest festival Pongal, the Tamil Nadu state government will launch an expansive welfare initiative today. Under the initiative, a Pongal gift hamper along with Rs. 3,000 in cash will be provided to more than 2.22 crore ration card holders. The eligible Sri Lankan Tamil families residing in the state will also receive the benefits. M.K. Stalin will formally inaugurate the scheme at a ration shop located in Alandur area of Nazarethpettai, Chennai. 

After the launch, the beneficiaries can begin collecting the Pongal gift packages at ration shops across Tamil Nadu according to their time slots. In each hamper, there will be 1kg raw rice, 1kg sugar and 1 whole sugarcane in addition to Rs. 3,000 cash assistance. 

In order to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced, the government has directed that distribution start right away and run smoothly throughout all ration stores.

All preparations have been finished as per the representatives from the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department and the Cooperation Department.

Ration shops throughout the state have received all of the rice and sugar intended for the Pongal gift packages. To guarantee efficiency as well as transparency, the distribution process is being closely watched. 

According to officials, between 50 and 80 percent of the necessary amount of sugarcane has already been delivered to individual ration stores. In the coming days, district administrations shall supply the leftover sugarcane.

A special emphasis is placed on distribution of fresh sugarcane. To ensure timely delivery wherever shortages arise, the arrangements are in place. The issue of unutilized stocks from previous years was also addressed by the TN government officials. 

They observed that 100% of the dhotis and sarees given out during previous Pongal festivities were taken by the ration stores, even if only around 80% of them were actually used by the recipients. Currently kept in government godowns, the remaining inventory will be delivered right away to ration stores wherever there is a need.

Police security has been set up in locations where several ration stores operate nearby. This would help to manage sizable crowds during distribution. To guarantee continuous, uninterrupted service, the ration shop employees have been told not to take time off until the Pongal festival is over.

The special arrangements extend to the hill regions too. Since residents in such areas leave early for work, the ration shops there will open at 6 a.m., facilitating easy access for the beneficiaries. The token distribution process for determining the date and time for Pongal gifts’ collection was concluded on 7 January 2026.

Individuals who have not received their tokens must approach their respective ration shops for collection of Pongal gift packages on the dates informed to them by the officials.

Source: The News Minute