The Tamil Nadu government has announced that the state will provide a cash gift of Rs 1,000 and a gift hamper to all rice ration card holders in the state on account of Pongal festival. A Government Order (GO) was passed in this regard on Wednesday by the Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department.
Speaking at the inaugural function of the newly-created Kallakurichi district on Tuesday, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami had said, “Last year, the state has faced a widespread drought. In a bid to mitigate the sufferings of farmers and other sections, the government has announced Rs 1000 as cash support for each rice card holder.”
“This year, the state has witnessed copious rains, but farmers have spent the money available with them to buy agricultural implements. The government wants the people to celebrate the Tamil festival of Pongal joyfully, and has decided to distribute the Pongal gift for all rice cardholders this year too,” the chief minister added, referring to the similar bonanza offered in January 2019, where all ration card holders were to be gifted Rs 1000. The move was critiqued for it was announced just three months before the Lok Sabha polls.
The gift hamper this year will also consist of 1 kg of raw rice, 1 kg of sugar, two-feet-long sugarcane stick, a pack containing each 20 grams of cashew nuts, raisins, and 5 grams of cardamom.
The Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection had stated that there were 2,05,25,337 (over two crore) rice and sugar cards in circulation. The cash gift and hamper are set to cost the exchequer a total of Rs 2245.85 crore. The breakdown of this is as follows: raw rice is for Rs 54.32 crore; sugar for 92.65 crore; sugarcane (inclusive of transportation) worth Rs 29.26 crore; cashews, raisins and cardamom (inclusive of transportation) for Rs 78.02 crore; cloth bags worth Rs 39.01 crore; and cash support amounting to Rs 1950.59 crore.