CM seeks additional assistance of ₹150 crore from Centre for this fiscal

As the government contemplates providing cash assistance to ration cardholders during Pongal festival, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has requested Centre to allocate additional funds to the tune of ₹150 crore for the current fiscal.

The demand was raised by the Chief Minister in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Minister for Public Works Department K. Lakshminarayanan, who is in New Delhi to attend the pre-budget meeting convened by the Finance Ministry, submitted Chief Minister’s letter to Mr. Shah at the office of the Home Minister. The PWD Minister personally handed over the letter to Ms. Sitharaman during the sidelines of the pre-budget meeting, a source told The Hindu. 

The Chief Minister, according to the source, prior to writing the letter had a telephonic conversation with Ms. Sitharaman on Friday wherein he had raised the subject of additional Central allocation of ₹150 crore during this financial year.  

Cash as Pongal gift

The territorial administration, the source said, has taken a decision to provide cash assistance to ration cardholders for Pongal festival. 

“We have almost decided on the amount to be provided as Pongal gift and in case the assistance was on the higher side of around ₹5,000 for each of the cardholders, the exchequer will need around ₹150 crore. The Centre could include the additional allocation in its Revised Budget estimate after providing us the funds. We hope to get a favourable response from the Centre,” the source added. 

The PWD Minister, who represented Mr. Rangasamy as he holds the Finance portfolio, placed before the pre-budget meeting the Union Territory’s financial requirements for 2026-27. The administration has sought enhanced Central assistance and funds for several development projects, including airport expansion, the source further stated.