Not all ration card holders eligible for TN government's Rs 1,000 Pongal gift: Madras HC

A PIL was filed in the Madras High Court on Tuesday challenging the Tamil Nadu government's scheme of Rs 1,000 cash payout to all ration card holders for Pongal festival, contending that the decision had been taken unmindful of the state's financial condition. After hearing the plea, the Madras High court on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu government to distribute Rs 1,000 as Pongal gift only to green ration card holders.

The Judges cynically questioned the intension behind the cash gift to all ration card holders in Tamil Nadu and advised the government that the freebies should only be given to people who are below the poverty line. "If you waste party's money, we wouldn't question that," said the Judges. 

The petitioner claimed that the total loan liability of the state exceeded that of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, and it was in dire need of funds, for various issues including rehabilitation measures in cyclone Gaja-hit areas.

The petitioner noted that he had no objection to economically poor people being given the assistance but was only opposing the decision to extend it to all ration card holders.

The government on January 2 announced a cash support of Rs 1,000 per family for the celebration of the harvest festival of Pongal falling on January 15.