Rs 2K for 2.14L new PDS cardholders: CM

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday announced that 2.14 lakh new rice ration cardholders will also be given the first installment of Rs 2,000 of the Rs 4,000 COVID financial assistance scheme this month.

An official release said a total of 2,14,940 new rice ration cardholders will also be extended Rs 2,000 assistance involving an expenditure of Rs

42.99 crore to sustain their livelihood. Stalin’s announcement extending the assistance to the new cardholders comes a week after he launched the scheme for all ration cardholders in the state at the Secretariat on May 10, fulfilling one of the promises made in the DMK election manifesto.

Soon after assuming office on May 7, launching of this scheme, was one of the five files signed by Chief Minister Stalin.

Earlier, during the elections, Stalin said the scheme would be launched in June to mark late DMK Chief M Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary. However, citing the hardship faced by the people due to second wave of COVID, he said Rs 2,000 would be given as first instalment this month itself and the second installment next month.

The scheme will benefit 2.07 crore rice cardholders in the state involving an outlay of Rs 4,153.39 crore. It was now extended to the new cardholders also and they would get the assistance this month itself, the release said.

Chief Minister’s announcement extending the assistance to the new cardholders comes a week after he launched the scheme