With less than a week to go for the Pongal festival, uncertainty looms over distribution of Pongal gift hampers to 1.84 crore ration cardholders, as there is no word yet from the government on this .
Officials say the matter is “pending” with the government and several issues, including financial implications and practicality, are being discussed.
In 2013 and 2014, gift hampers, comprising one kg rice and one kg sugar, besides a cash assistance of Rs. 100 each, were distributed to all the 1.84 crore rice-drawing card holders and about 19,700 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees through fair price shops.
By this time in these two years, announcements were out on the distribution of gift hampers. Last year, then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa launched the distribution on January 4 and in 2013, she did it on January 9. On both occasions, the events took place in The Nilgiris district.
In 2014, the scheme cost the government around Rs. 152 a gift hamper and in 2013 it was Rs. 160. Totally, the expenditure was about Rs. 280 crore last year. In 2013, it was Rs. 300 crore.
In 2009, when the DMK was in power, free Pongal pack, consisting of raw rice (500 gm), jaggery (500 gm), green ‘dhal’ (100 gm), cashew, dried grapes and cardamom (20 gm), was distributed to cardholders. At that time, the cost was Rs. 70 crore.
In May 2009 and April 2014, the State faced Lok Sabha elections.
In 2014, the scheme cost the government around Rs. 152 a gift hamper and in 2013 it was Rs. 160
