The Tamil Nadu government has issued a crucial directive to all fair price shops across the state, instructing them to have printed tokens for the Pongal 2026 gift hampers ready for distribution by January 2, 2026. This pre-emptive move by the Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department aims to ensure a smooth and orderly distribution process for the annual festive scheme.
Detailed Instructions for Statewide Implementation
Ahead of a formal government order, the department has rolled out comprehensive guidelines. The instructions, issued by Additional Registrar M Veerappan to all zonal offices, mandate a door-to-door distribution of these tokens. The tokens are to be given to all eligible rice ration cardholders as well as Sri Lankan Tamil refugees residing in the state. Each token must clearly specify the date and time for the beneficiary to collect their hamper, a measure designed to prevent chaos.
This initiative is expected to benefit a massive two crore (20 million) beneficiaries. To manage this enormous task efficiently, ration cards have been ordered to be grouped street-wise, with detailed beneficiary lists to be maintained by the shops.
Staggered Collection and Staffing Rules
To avoid overcrowding and ensure social distancing, a staggered collection system will be strictly followed. Typically, 100 beneficiaries will be allowed per session in the morning and evening slots. However, shops with larger premises have been given the flexibility to increase this number to between 150 and 200 beneficiaries per session.
The government has also specified staffing requirements based on the shop's load. Fair price shops handling up to 1,500 ration cards must deploy two staff members for the token and hamper distribution process. Those managing more than 1,500 cards are required to have three staff members on duty.
Transparency and Security Protocols
The process emphasizes transparency and accountability. The department has mandated that only ration shop staff are permitted to issue the tokens, explicitly barring police personnel from this role. However, recognizing potential law and order situations, police protection will be provided at shops where such issues are anticipated.
Furthermore, shops must ensure they have adequate stocks of the gift hampers ready. A key directive for monitoring is the daily upload of updates on token issuance to a shared Google Sheets document by 5 PM each day.
While the contents of the Pongal 2026 hamper are yet to be officially announced, the government's instructions reference the previous year's offering. For Pongal 2025, the gift hamper included 1 kg of raw rice, 1 kg of sugar, sugarcane, and free dhotis and sarees. A similar festive package is anticipated for the upcoming harvest festival, continuing the state's tradition of supporting celebrations for all sections of society.
