Good News ! Now get gift hampers under TN Pongal Gift Scheme 2023. The state government of Tamil Nadu has started distribution of cash assistance of Rs. 1000 along with 1 Kg rice, 1Kg sugar and 1 sugarcane. Around 2.19 crore rice ration cardholders (PDS card holder families) & Sri Lankan Tamils in rehab centres of Tamilnadu will get benefit of MK Stalin's Pongal Gift Hamper Scheme. The cash assistance and gift hampers will be distributed to enable people to celebrate Thai Pongal festival.

About Tamil Nadu Govt Pongal Gift Scheme 2023

A popular Tamil festival that is Thai Pongal will be celebrated from 15th January 2023 (Sunday) to 18th January 2023 (Wednesday). To enable people to celebrate Pongal festival with joy, Tamil Nadu government is providing some special Pongal gift package to the people. Chief Minister MK Stalin has started the distribution of Rs. 1,000 cash assistance, 1 sugarcane in addition to rice and sugar (1 kg each) to family card holders and families living in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps before the forthcoming Thai Pongal in 2023. The start date for the distribution of this Pongal gift is 9 January 2023.

Date for Cash + Rice + Sugar - TN Pongal Gift Scheme 

The Pongal rewards announced by the Government of Tamil Nadu will be given from 9 January 2023. From thus date, people can get Pongal gift in ration shop. Before 15 January 2023, the gift hampers will be distributed through fair price shops under Tamilnadu Government Pongal Gift Scheme 2023. Tamilnadu state govt. has allocated a sum of Rs. 2,356.67 crore towards implementing this Gift Hamper scheme for PDS cardholders (rice rationcard holders). A G.O. issued in this regard said the gift hampers will also be distributed to all Sri Lankan Tamils staying in refugee camps.

List of Items in TN Government Pongal Gift Scheme 2023

For Thai Pongal festival 2023, the state govt. of Tamil Nadu is going to provide cash assistance of Rs. 1000 along with 1 Kg rice, 1 Kg sugar and 1 Sugarcane. All rice ration card holder households and Sri Lankan tamils in rehab centres will get these items under TN Pongal Gift Scheme 2023. 

Last year i.e in the year 2022, the state govt. of Tamil Nadu had distributed gift hampers containing the following 20 items:-
  1. Raw rice
  2. Jaggery
  3. Cashew nuts
  4. Dry grapes
  5. Cardamom
  6. Moong dal
  7. Ghee
  8. Turmeric powder
  9. Chilli powder
  10. Coriander powder
  11. Mustard
  12. Jeera
  13. Pepper
  14. Tamarind
  15. Bengal gram
  16. Urad dal
  17. Rava
  18. Wheat flour
  19. Salt
  20. Cloth bag
These 20 items will NOT be given under TN Pongal Gift Scheme 2023 as per the government order released in this regard. The list of new items for the current financial year includes cash assistance, rice, sugar and sugarcane would be applicable to the entire state. The ingredients provided in TN Pongal Gift Hamper Scheme are used to prepare the sweet dish at Pongal festival. 

It is for the 5th time in the history of the state that Tamil Nadu govt. provides such a gift hamper to people on Thai Pongal festival which would be celebrated b/w 15 to 18 January. In the year 2021 also, the state government had given Rs. 2500 per family along with gift hampers. 
CM MK Stalin said "authorities will issue the tokens to the cardholders at their doorstep. The public can go to the public distribution outlets on the given date and get Pongal gift in ration shop which will have raw rice, sugar, sugarcane and cash assistance".

This article is a reworked version of article accessible through the link -