Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a Rs 3,000 cash gift for Pongal to rice ration card holders and families in Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps. This is in addition to a gift hamper containing rice, sugar, and sugarcane, along with dhotis and sarees. The total expenditure for this welfare package is estimated at over Rs 6,936 crore. The announcement comes ahead of the state assembly elections and follows a recent pension reform for government employees.