Jayalalithaa launches free dhoti-saree scheme for Pongal festival next year

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has launched the free dhoti-saree scheme for Pongal festival next year, the government said today.

Launched by AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran as Chief Minister in 1983, the scheme involves providing free dhoti and saree to the economically poor for the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal in January.

The state had earmarked Rs 486.36 crore for the scheme, which meets the twin objectives of helping the poor as well as provide employment opportunities to weavers by procuring dhoti and saree from them, a government release said.

For the Pongal festival, the government will disribute 1.68 crore dhotis and 1.67 crore sarees, it said, adding, Jayalalithaa launched the scheme by giving away the dress material to five families here on Monday.