Chennai: On the occasion of Pongal, Chief Minister Stalin has launched a program to provide special Pongal gift packages to the families of 2.15 crore rice card holders and Sri Lankan Tamils living in camps.
The gift package will include turmeric, chilli powder, jasmine, mustard, cumin, ghee, pepper, tamarind, peanuts, alfalfa, lentils, salt, semolina, wheat flour, jaggery, rice, cashews, raisins and cardamom. A special Pongal gift package worth Rs 1,297 crore is to be given to 2.15 crore families, including whole cane.
The distribution was initiated by Chief Minister Stalin at the General Secretariat, for 10 families. To get the special Pongal gift package, ration card holders are given a ‘token’ indicating the day and time. On that day and time, the Pongal gift package can be availed.
Ministers Periyasamy, Chakrabarty, Subramanian, Sekarbapu and Chief Secretary Irayanpu were present on the occasion.
Complain via SMS
A food department official said: As per the government announcement, Pongal gift packages belonging to 2.15 crore cardholders have been sent to ration shops. So it can be purchased by the cardholders on the date specified in the token issued to them.
It will include the ‘Bill’ number and date, as well as the mobile phone number 97739 04050 to make a complaint. If the gift package is not purchased and the SMS is received as purchased, the cardholders concerned will be required to ‘forward’ the SMS immediately to the number specified in it. The shop concerned will be inspected and action will be taken against the employee.
You can also file a complaint on 1967. Authorities have been instructed to take stern action against employees for misconduct or misappropriation of all items in the gift package.
In the distribution of gift packages, priority should be given to the elderly and the able-bodied, he said.
The public waiting for party intervention
After the launch of the Pongal gift scheme at the Chennai General Secretariat by Chief Minister Stalin, it was announced that gift packages would be distributed to cardholders at ration shops.
For this, the cardholders went to the ration shops from 8:00 am yesterday. The police, who were on security duty, made them stand out from the social space. From 9:00 am onwards, DMK – Supporters of MLAs, Rural Local Government Representatives, District, Union, Area, Circle Administrators and many others will enter the ration shops in their respective areas and collect the gift by hand. Ration staff have been told to provide.
After the Chief Minister launched the gift package distribution program, software was set up to record the gift package as soon as the sales point terminal tool called ‘Point of Sale’ in the ration shops is ‘Apped’ and then ‘On’.
But it was only from 11:50 that I was able to record the gift package on the instruments. Also, the gift package was given only after the party arrived. Thus, the cardholders waited in line for a long time and went to buy the Pongal gift package.
Regarding this, the cardholders said, ‘The DMK is making the cardholders stand up, saying that the winner should give the gift package only if they come. The Chief Minister should ban the parties from coming to the ration shop.
The store staff said:
Around the ration shop, DMK workers have erected advertising banners. Seeing the action of the DMK, the DMK-MLAs and local body representatives come into the shop saying that they have to deliver the goods only in their presence. Ration card holders and employees are affected by political parties. Therefore, the parties should be barred from coming.Thus they said.
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