Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has allocated Rs 350 crore for a dhoti-saree scheme, under which over three crore garments will be distributed free to the needy for Pongal festival.
Jayalalithaa marked the event today by distributing the clothes to seven beneficiaries at the Secretariat here, a government release said.
A total of Rs 350 crore has been allocated for the scheme, under which 1.70 crore sarees and 1.69 crore dhotis will be distributed this year.
Launched by former Chief Minister late M G Ramachandran in 1981 to benefit the people and the weavers involved in making dhotis and sarees, Jayalalithaa directed that besides cotton, polyester be also used for making these clothes, the release added.