Chennai: The state government has stated that the district collectors will be responsible for the procurement and transportation of cane and distribution of Pongal gifts, reports The New Indian Express.
A meeting with the district collectors was convened by the Minister for Cooperative K R Periyakaruppan, Food and Civil Supplies minister R Sakkarapani and top officials to discuss the arrangements for procuring cane for the Pongal gift hamper.
The government will be providing 1 sugarcane along with 1 kg raw rice, 1 kg sugar, and Rs 1000in cash to 2.19 crore ration card holders ahead of Pongal. The distribution will start on January 9 and the government has allotted Rs 78.36 crore for procuring sugarcane with a fixed procurement price of Rs 33 per piece.
The sugarcane farmers should be paid through ECS into their bank accounts, instructed the officials. The officers of the rank of deputy collectors, deputy directors of agriculture, and deputy registrars should inspect that quality cane is procured for distribution as gift hampers.
Farmers have urged the government to procure cane directly from them without any interference from brokers.
