
While the tamil Nadu government is said to be planning to pay the prize money to the family cardholders in their bank accounts to celebrate pongal in 2023, the cooperative department has instructed the authorities to open a new account for the family cardholders who do not have bank accounts. On behalf of the tamil Nadu government, a pongal gift package was given to all rice family card holders on the occasion of the Thai pongal festival which is celebrated as a tamil festival. Around 2.15 crore family card holders were given pongal items including Pacha pori, jaggery, sugarcane, and cash during the AIADMK regime. After this, when the DMK government was established, 21 items were given as pongal gifts.

