Stalin Announces Rs 3,000 Pongal Cash Gift; Left Urges Inclusion of New Card Holders

• CM MK Stalin announced Rs 3,000 cash as Pongal gift for all rice ration card holders and Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camp families.
• The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs 6,936 crore for the distribution of Pongal gift packages and cash assistance.
• Officials have been directed to complete the distribution of cash, gift hampers, veshtis, and sarees before the Pongal festival.
• The Communist Party of India (CPI) welcomed the cash gift but appealed for it to be raised to Rs 5,000.
• CPI also urged the state government to extend the gift package and cash assistance to families applying for new ration cards.

Why It Matters: Tamil Nadu to give Rs 3,000 Pongal cash; Left demands inclusion of new ration card applicants.