Tamil Nadu Orders Door-to-Door Tokens for Pongal Hampers by Jan. 2

Overview

• The order was issued by Additional Registrar of Cooperative Societies M. Veerappan to zonal offices under the Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department.
• Tokens will be delivered door to door to eligible rice ration cardholders and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, each bearing a fixed collection time.
• Ration shops must limit gatherings to 100 beneficiaries per morning and evening session, with larger shops allowed 150–200 depending on space.
• Only fair price shop staff may distribute tokens, with minimum staffing set at two for up to 1,500 cards and three beyond that, while police are kept out of token handling.
• Shops must upload daily token data via Google Sheets by 5 p.m. and ensure adequate stocks in advance, with the 2026 hamper reported to mirror last year’s package with a cash component.