CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is seriously considering whether to provide a package of grocery items or cash of Rs 1,000 in ration shops for next year’s Pongal festival.
The Tamil Nadu government is offering gift packages to rice card holders in ration shops on the occasion of Pongal. 1,000 rupees each for the Pongal festival in 2019 and 2020 under ADMK rule, along with sugar, cashew, grapes, elem and sugarcane; 2,500 was also given in 2021.
In the last assembly elections held in 2021, DMK came to power. For this year’s Pongal, 2.15 crore card holders will get tamarind, jaggery, semolina, wheat flour. A gift package containing 21 items including urad dal, turmeric, ghee, chili powder, coriander leaves, mustard and cumin was given. 1,300 crore rupees were spent for this.
Cardholders complained that many items in the grocery package were of poor quality. Chief Minister Stalin visited ration shops and inspected the quality of grocery packages. He ordered strict action against the complicit officials and companies that supplied substandard goods. The opposing parties alleged corruption in the awarding of the prize package.
In this case, Pongal festival is coming in January 2023. Therefore, the government is discussing with senior officials and food department officials whether to give the cardholders a grocery package or Rs 1,000 cash as a Pongal gift package.
In this regard, an official of the food department said: In the Pongal gift package, although more attention is paid to the quality of the food items, complaints are likely to arise. Difficulty in placing goods in stores and delivering all goods in one installment; As an additional burden on the ration workers, many problems arise.
Thus, it is being discussed whether to give Rs 1,000 in cash in return for a grocery package containing more items. With the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, there is a high chance of giving money. This is what he said.
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