Tamil Nadu government has announced Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme for Pongal Festival. Subsequently, Thai Pongal is a harvest festival in the Tamil Nadu state which is dedicated to Sun God. Accordingly, this scheme will benefit the poor people and also the Handloom Weavers who makes these sarees. This scheme will benefit more than 1.8 crore under-privileged people. The official website for Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme is www.pongalsareedhoti.tn.gov.in
Thai Pongal festival is celebrated for 4 days as per the Tamil Calendar and the people usually celebrates it from 14 January to 17 January. Tamil Nadu state govt. will provide these dhotis and sarees to the people as a gift for Pongal festival.
At the official launch, the state govt. has distributed free sarees and dhotis to 9 beneficiaries. The state govt. is going to distribute the Polycot Sarees. Even the Pongal Gift Scheme 2024 has also been started which includes Rs. 2,500 and Pongal kits.
Tamilnadu Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme 2024
The important features and highlights of TN Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme 2024 are as follows:-
- AIADMK Founder MG Ramachandran introduced the Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme in 1983.
- This primary objective of this scheme is to help the poor and economically weaker sections of the society.
- Moreover, this scheme also provides employment opportunities to the poor people in the textile and handloom industry.
- This scheme will improve the condition of the handloom weavers and raise their standard of living as the state govt. will procure sarees and dhotis from them.
- Under this scheme, the state govt. will distribute around 1.8 crore dhotis and sarees to the beneficiaries for Pongal.
- Accordingly, this scheme will cost around Rs. 484.25 crore to the state government.
Nine families received the sarees and dhotis from the Chief Minister at the Secretariat on 21 December 2020 as a mark of the official launch of Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme in Tamilnadu.
An Overview of TN Priceless Saree and Dhoti Distribution Scheme 2024
Here is an overview or highlights of the TN Free Dhoti and Saree Distribution Scheme 2024:-
| Organisation Name | Revenue Department |
| Category | Government To Citizen |
| Service Title | Priceless Saree and Dhoti Distribution Scheme |
| Description | Scheme for Priceless Saree and Dhoti Distribution |
| Official Website | https://www.pongalsareedhoti.tn.gov.in/pdsds/ |
Need for Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme by Tamil Nadu Government
For the rural population, weaving is the largest occupation after agriculture. With a view towards benefitting the poor and with the objective of providing higher employment opportunities in the handloom, powerloom sector and to bring about renaissance, the scheme of distribution of supplying Priceless Sarees and Dhoties was introduced.
With a noble intention of supplying good quality Sarees and Dhoties to the poor, the production and distribution of polycotton Sarees and Dhoties were introduced in the year 2003. For Pongal 2005 the Government has extended the scheme of Free distribution of Sarees and Dhoties to all people living Below Poverty in Rural and Urban areas. During the year 2012, the scheme of distribution of Free Dhoties and Sarees has been renamed as Priceless Sarees and Dhoties Scheme.
Free Bicycle Scheme
TN state govt. has also implemented a free bicycle scheme for the students of Class XI in the state. AIADMK introduced this scheme for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes students in the year 2001-2002. Under this scheme, govt. will provide free bicycles to around 2.7 lakh boys and 3.48 lakh girls.
TN govt. now extends this scheme to all the schools which receives financial assistance from the state government. The state govt. will spend a total amount of Rs. 244 crores for the successful implementation of this scheme.
For more details of Free Dhoti and Saree Scheme, click the link – https://www.tn.gov.in/service/dept/48975/35860