Cash to the tune of ₹5,587 crore disbursed for Pongal till January 11: Minister

A total of 1,86,23,426 rice ration card holders have received the cash dole of ₹3,000 for Pongal festival through 24,924 ration shops across the State till Sunday, Minister K.R. Periakaruppan said.

In a statement, the Minister said that the cash disbursed was to the tune of ₹5,587.02 crore to the rice ration card holders. Till Sunday, a total of 1,39,06,292 dhotis and sarees have been disbursed, he said.

Soon after the announcement was made by the Chief Minister, tokens were distributed in all ration shops between January 4 and 7 for distributing the Pongal gift hampers for eligible ration cards and disbursement of cash for all rice ration card holders.

Since the disbursement was launched by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on January 8, ration shops have been disbursing the sum of ₹3,000 to each of the rice ration card holders and families in Sri Lankan rehabilitation camps.

Over 50,000 workers of Cooperation Department were involved in the distribution of Pongal gift hampers and disbursement of cash. Each of the ration shops distributed them to about 200 cards on the first day and between 300 and 400 on the second day.