TN CM Stalin Unveils Pongal Gift Hampers
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Chennai, Jan 9 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, officially kicked off the distribution of Pongal gift hampers on Thursday at a ration shop located in Saidapet.
This initiative is set to assist over 2.2 crore ration cardholders throughout Tamil Nadu.
The distribution will occur from January 9 to January 13, 2025, providing ration cardholders with hampers that include 1 kg of raw rice, sugar, tamarind, sugarcane, Rs 1,000 in cash, along with 21 other essential festival items.
To enhance efficiency and avoid crowding, the government is exploring the option of directly transferring the cash component into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
If any issues arise with bank transfers, cash will be distributed through ration shops using special tokens.
The Tamil Nadu government has set aside Rs 100 crore for the creation of 1.77 crore dhotis and an equal number of sarees.
This represents a considerable increase from last year, with an additional 77 lakh dhotis and 53 lakh sarees being produced.
These garments will be distributed to both ration cardholders and beneficiaries under the Old Age Pension Scheme.
For the 2024–25 production cycle, cotton yarn will be used for garment production, while polyester yarn will be introduced in 2025–26.
This initiative is projected to benefit 63,000 power looms across the state.
In anticipation of the festive season, the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) will operate 15,000 special buses from January 10 to 13, catering to travelers returning to their hometowns for the holidays.
Out of these, 12,000 buses will depart from Chennai to various destinations, adding to the existing 2,092 daily buses.
Passengers can board these special buses from termini at Kilambakkam, Koyambedu, and Madhavaram.
To prevent overcharging by private bus operators, the Tamil Nadu Transport Department has dispatched 30 inspection teams.
These teams will conduct inspections statewide, imposing penalties, seizing buses, or revoking permits for any violations.
As the festive season nears, trains from Chennai to southern districts are completely booked, and bus reservations are rapidly increasing.
Over 75,000 reservations have already been made, with numbers expected to rise further.
Public holidays for Pongal have been announced from January 14 to 16, resulting in a six-day break when combined with the subsequent weekend.
