The Tamil Nadu government will give Rs 1,000 and a gift hamper to ration cardholders for the Tamil harvest festival Pongal in 2020 also, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said here on Tuesday.

He recalled that the government had provided the cash and gift hamper for Pongal 2019, keeping in mind the need for people to celebrate the festival 'grandly' overcoming the then drought situation in many parts of the state.

"This year also, to celebrate the Tamil festival Pongal in a grand manner, Rs 1000, one kg each rice and sugar, sugarcane, raisins and cashew nuts will be provided to all families holding rice ration card," he said.

Rice, sugar, raisins and cashew nuts are used in the preparation of the sweet delicacy Pongal.

The chief minister was speaking at an event here to mark the birth of Kallakurichi district, carved out from Villupuram.

This time, though there have been good rains, farmers have spent on farm inputs and many poor families were suffering due to financial constraints, and therefore the initiative was being extended for 2020 also, he said.

The harvest festival of Pongal is celebrated in the second week of January.

Palaniswami also announced various proposals for Kallakurichi in the Health, Education and Road sectors.