Finance Minister K.M. Mani has said that the weekly draw of the Kerala State lottery will resume on September 2.
An official pressnote quoting him here on Wednesday said the weekly lottery was being revived to create job opportunities for over 2 lakh unemployed youth, and provide financial assistance to victims of dreaded diseases. Apart from the Win-Win lottery drawn on Wednesdays, three more lotteries named Akshaya, Pratheeksha, and Karunya would be introduced soon. The department planned to launch six weekly lotteries in a phased manner.
Prize money
While the Akshaya ticket that costs Rs.20 would carry a first prize of Rs.25 lakh, that of Pratheeksha, which costs Rs.40, would carry a prize of Rs.75 lakh, and Karunya, with a face value of Rs.50, would gift the winner Rs.1 crore.
Mr. Mani said the proceeds from the Karunya lottery would be used to provide assistance to treat victims of cancer, kidney disease, and other serious ailments.
It was in August 2010 that the previous government restricted the Kerala State lottery to one draw. The United Democratic Front election manifesto had promised to revive the weekly lotteries. After assuming power, the proposal was included in the Chief Minister's 100-day action programme.
Stopping the lotteries had deprived lakhs of people of their livelihood, Mr. Mani said. Resuming them would enable the vendors and their families to pick up the threads once more and make a living.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy is slated to inaugurate the new lotteries at a function at Gandhi Park here on September 2.
Mr. Mani, Health Minister Adoor Prakash, and Transport Minister V.S. Sivakumar will participate in the function.
