Chennai: Accepting the demand of sugarcane farmers and opposition leaders, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced that one full sugarcane will be provided to all ration card holders along with the gift hamper on Pongal festival, reports The Indian Express.
The government had earlier announced that the Pongal gift hamper includes 1kg rice, 1kg sugar, and Rs 1,000 in cash.
Farmers and opposition leaders raised their voices against this after the government excluded sugarcane from the gift hamper.
A PIL was filed in the Madras High Court seeking direction to the state government over the issue. AIADMK had planned to hold a demonstration in Tiruvannamalai on January 2 against the government’s decision.
The government has now issued a statement that based on the request of farmers; a gift hamper for Pongal will include full sugarcane.
