Jayalalithaa distributes dhotis and sarees for Pongal

The scheme of distributing dhotis and sarees on Pongal every year introduced by former Chief Minister Dr MGR during the year 1983 with a noble objective of uplifting the livelihood of weavers by providing them job opportunities, was carried out this year as well by CM J Jayalalithaa. She kickstarted the distribution of free dhotis and sarees for 2016 by presenting the freebies to five families at a simple function held at the State Secretariat in Chennai. 

Under this scheme, as many as 1,68,04,986 sarees and 1,67,89,404 dhotis would be distributed for free. For 2016, a sum of Rs.486.36 crores was sanctioned by Jayalalithaa for the purpose. Meanwhile, the AIADMK General Secretary also appealed to her party cadre to refrain from the protesting against DMDK President Vijayakanth, who while answering a question regarding the upcoming elections, used derogatory words and asked reporters if they had the courage to pose the same to Jayalalithaa. She said, “People will teach a lesson to DMDK in the next elections. So concentrate on working for people and leave things like this to the law.”