Kerala Steps Up Onam Preparations With 6 Lakh Free Kits, Subsidised Rice

Kerala has stepped up preparations for the upcoming Onam festival, with the Food and Civil Supplies Department and Supplyco finalising measures to ensure the availability of essential commodities at affordable prices across the state.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said the department had approved 73,024 new priority ration cards out of 76,338 online applications received as part of the state government's 100-day programme. Of the remaining applications, 1,353 were returned due to missing documents, while 2,011 were rejected.

Free ration distribution to the newly approved beneficiaries will begin on August 3, with Chief Minister V D Satheesan scheduled to inaugurate the programme. The government has also shared ward-wise lists of potential beneficiaries with local bodies to help identify other eligible households.

As part of the Onam arrangements, the state has earmarked 1,65,932 metric tonnes of rice and 24,506 metric tonnes of wheat. Special rice distribution for non-priority, or blue-card, ration holders will begin next month. Beneficiaries will be eligible for three kg of rice at Rs 10.90 per kg and two kg of wheat at Rs 8.70 per kg.

The government has sanctioned Rs 53 crore for distributing 6,09,305 free Onam kits to Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries and inmates of welfare institutions. The 16-item kits, including a cloth bag and valued at around Rs 854 each, will be distributed between August 10 and 25.

To control prices and strengthen market intervention, Supplyco will organise Onam Mega Trade Fairs in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode from August 8 to 25. District-level fairs will be held in 11 districts, alongside Onam markets in 126 Assembly constituencies.

Thiruonam will be celebrated on August 26 this year.

Jacob said the department had received Rs 448.05 crore in allocations during the government's first two months in office, including Rs 273 crore for market intervention, Rs 154.79 crore for paddy procurement bonuses and Rs 20.26 crore for transportation expenses.