Kerala govt. announces mega market interventions to ease festival costs during Onam
The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) will organise 10-day Onam mega fairs in all districts from August 26 and five-day fairs in all of the 140 Assembly constituencies from August 25. Mobile Onam markets will be organised in all constituencies, aimed at delivering foodgrains and essential commodities even in remote regions.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the State-level Onam fair at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram on August 25.
Addressing a media conference here on Thursday, Mr. Anil said Supplyco will offer rice and coconut oil at highly subsidised rates during the Onam season. While 8 kg of rice per ration card is presently being distributed at subsidy rates, an additional 20 kg of raw or parboiled rice will be made available at a special Onam price of ₹25/kg.
With coconut oil prices on the rise, Supplyco has negotiated new tenders and will distribute Sabari brand oil at both subsidised (₹349 per litre, ₹179 for 500 ml) and non-subsidised rates (₹429 per litre, ₹219 for 500 ml).
Coconut oil of other brands will also be sold below maximum retail price. Sunflower, palm and rice bran oil will also be available at Supplyco outlets.
Onam kits
The Minister also informed that over 6 lakh Onam kits, each containing 15 essential items packed in a cloth bag, will be distributed to AAY ration cardholders and welfare institutions between August 18 and September 2.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department has also reduced the prices of red cowpea and toor dal to ₹70/kg (from ₹75) and ₹93/kg (from ₹105) respectively. The quantity of subsidised chilli has been doubled to 1 kg per cardholder at ₹115.5/kg. All subsidised items, except coconut oil, are already available at Supplyco outlets.
Sabari products
Supplyco is all set to introduce five new Sabari brand products, viz., semiya and palada payasam mix, sugar, salt, and Palakkadan Matta 'vadi' and 'unda' rice varieties. These will be formally launched at Supplyco headquarters on August 18. Processed and packaged rice-based items like puttu and appam powders will also be sold at competitive prices.
According to Mr. Anil, Supplyco recorded ₹183 crore in sales last Onam season. This year, the agency has fixed a target of at least ₹250 crore.
Priority cards
The Minister also announced that 43,000 new families will receive priority ration cards before Onam. Online applications for new priority cards will open from September 16 to October 15.
Besides, ration cardholders across all categories will receive enhanced rice quotas (in addition to their existing allocations) during the festive season. AAY (yellow) card holders will receive additional 1 kg sugar, while PHH (pink) card holders will get additional 5 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg, NPS (blue) card holders an additional 10 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg, and NPNS (white) card holders will receive a total of 15 kg rice at a rate of ₹10.90/kg. All ration cardholders will receive their kerosene quotas as well.
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