CHENNAI: With just two weeks left for Pongal, the State government's festival preparedness under the public distribution system (PDS) is facing mounting pressure, as official records point to pending ration card applications and uneven movement of Pongal Special Package consignments, including zero progress in some districts such as Ariyalur and Tirupattur.
A high-level review meeting of the Food and Civil Supplies department held on December 29 revealed that Tamil Nadu currently has 2.22 crore active family ration cards across priority and non-priority categories. Between May 2021 and December 21, 2025, the government has issued 30.37 lakh new ration cards, expanding welfare coverage significantly. However, officials acknowledged that over 4.14 lakh ration card-related applications, covering new cards, changes in card category and corrections, are still pending across districts, triggering concern as Pongal draws near.
The backlog is critical, as ration cards are mandatory to receive the Pongal Special Package. Officials were instructed to fast-track genuine applications, but district-wise pendency continues to remain high, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions.
The review of the Pongal Special Package for 2026 painted a mixed picture. As of December 27, only 33% of the allocated raw rice (72.77 lakh households) and 33% of sugar (72.91 lakh households) had been transported to districts. In contrast, the movement of textiles showed faster progress, with 85% veshtis (1.50 crore pieces) and 85% sarees (1.51 crore pieces) already dispatched from central warehouses.
However, the aggregate figures mask sharp inter-district disparities. Ariyalur and Tirupattur districts have recorded no movement at all in the transportation of Pongal commodities so far, while several other districts are still below the 25-30% mark in raw rice and sugar movement. Officials admitted that such delays could strain last-mile delivery and crowd management at fair price shops during the festival week.
Senior officials cited logistical constraints and phased lifting from warehouses as reasons for the slow pace but conceded that the timeline was becoming increasingly tight. "If supplies do not reach ration shops well in advance, distribution during Pongal could turn disorderly," a senior official told DT Next.
The meeting also reviewed the availability of essential commodities such as wheat, tur dal and palm oil under the PDS. While stock levels were said to be adequate, officials acknowledged that slow movement and unresolved ration card pendency remain weak links in the festive rollout.
With Pongal barely two weeks away, district administrations have been directed to step up monitoring and expedite both card processing and commodity movement.
RATION CARD STATUS
2.22 crore active family ration cards in Tamil Nadu
30.37 lakh new ration cards issued between May 2021 and Dec 21, 2025
4.14 lakh plus ration card-related delays/issues pending
SO FAR...
(items that have been despatched as of Dec 27)
33% of allocated raw rice (72.77 L households)
33% of sugar (72.91 L households)
85% veshtis (1.50 cr pieces)
85% sarees (1.51 cr pieces)
IN THE PONGAL GIFT HAMPER
Raw rice 1 kg
Sugar 1 kg
Veshti 1
Saree 1
Sugarcane: 1 piece
Rs 3,000 cash gift, likely