To support ration shop operations during Diwali and Pongal, the Tamil Nadu government has sanctioned ₹300 crore in advance subsidy to over 2 lakh fair price shops. Chennai leads the allocation with ₹20 crore, while Coimbatore and Salem receive ₹14 crore each. The move is intended to mitigate losses shops face when selling subsidised commodities in high-demand festival months. For the first time, ration bills will transparently display both the item’s actual cost and government subsidy component. While rice and wheat remain free, sugar will be sold at ₹25 per kg, even though real cost is around ₹38. The assistance covers 2.15 crore ration cardholders across the state. The average monthly subsidy per family has gone up significantly — earlier negligible, now around ₹300. Officials describe this as a preemptive consumer relief measure during the festival rush.
