Tamil Nadu Extends Pongal Gift Hamper Collection Deadline to January 25
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Synopsis
As many families have not yet collected their Pongal gift hampers, the Tamil Nadu government has extended the collection deadline for eligible ration card holders to January 25. The initiative aims to ease financial burdens during the festival.
Key Takeaways
- Eligible families can collect hampers until January 25.
- 2.2 crore ration card holders are eligible; 1.87 crore have collected.
- Each hamper contains essential items for the festival.
- Rs 249.76 crore allocated for distribution.
- No cash component included this year.
Chennai, Jan 21 (NationPress) With numerous families still to pick up their Pongal gift hampers, the Tamil Nadu government has declared that eligible ration card holders can receive these until January 25.
Out of the 2.2 crore ration card holders, which includes individuals in Sri Lankan refugee camps, only 1.87 crore have collected their hampers thus far. In light of this, the government has extended the distribution period until January 25.
The distribution of Pongal gift hampers was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on January 9. A dedicated workforce of 50,000 ration shop staff has been mobilized to facilitate smooth distribution. Each hamper contains one kilogram each of raw rice and sugar, a sugarcane, a dhoti, and a saree. Furthermore, the hampers include a collection of 21 essential items needed for the festival.
This initiative is designed to reduce the financial burden on families, allowing them to celebrate Pongal without incurring additional costs.
The state government has earmarked Rs 249.76 crore for the distribution. Notably, this year’s hampers do not include a cash component, which had been part of the initiative for over a decade, except in 2017, 2018, and 2022.
The cash gifts began at Rs 100 in 2014 and escalated to Rs 1,000 in 2019 and Rs 2,500 in 2021. In January 2022, the DMK government opted to exclude cash as cardholders had already received Rs 2,000 (as part of Covid-19 relief) in November 2021. Instead, the government provided hampers containing 16 grocery items valued at Rs 1,400.
The sarees and dhotis distributed this year were produced by state-run cooperative societies.
Beneficiaries also include those enrolled in the Old Age Pension Scheme.
For the 2025 Pongal festival, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered the manufacturing of 1.77 crore dhotis and an equal number of sarees, marking a significant increase from last year’s production of 1 crore dhotis and 1.24 crore sarees.
An additional 77 lakh dhotis and 53 lakh sarees were produced for this year’s distribution. The Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles, and Khadi Department allocated Rs 100 crore for procuring yarn and compensating weavers.
This production utilized 63,000 power looms across the state, employing cotton yarn for the 2024-25 cycle. A transition to polyester yarn is anticipated for the 2025-26 cycle, reflecting the government’s dedication to supporting traditional industries.
Pongal, also known as Thai Pongal, is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu. It falls in the Tamil calendar month of Thai, typically on January 14 or 15 in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is a time to express gratitude to the Sun, cattle, farmers, and their produce.
This festival corresponds to Makar Sankranti, a similar Hindu observance celebrated across the Indian subcontinent under various regional names. Pongal celebrations last for three to four days, with Bhogi Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kanum Pongal observed consecutively.
