The Tamil Nadu government has announced that Rs 3,000 in cash will be provided along with the Pongal gift package. However, Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) and several other parties have demanded that the amount be increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.
Last year, the Pongal gift package attracted widespread criticism as it did not include any cash component. With the State Assembly elections scheduled for this year, there was strong public expectation that cash assistance would be included. In response, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that Rs 3,000 would be given along with the Pongal package.
Chief Minister Stalin is set to launch the distribution of the Pongal gift package with Rs 3,000 cash this Thursday in Alandur, Chennai. The rice and sugar included in the package have already been dispatched from Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation warehouses to ration shops.
The distribution of Pongal gift tokens has begun and is progressing actively. Ration shop staff and officials are delivering tokens door to door.
The state government has also announced that Pongal gift packages will be available at fair price shops until January 13, and can be collected on Sundays as well.
Amid this, Opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami has reiterated his demand that the cash assistance be raised to Rs 5,000. He pointed out that during the previous AIADMK government, Chief Minister Stalin himself had demanded Rs 5,000 as Pongal cash, adding that he is now making the same request.
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