THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Kerala State Consumer Marketing Federation (Consumerfed) will set up 3,477 Onam and Bakrid markets for 10 days from August 24 to September 3, Cooperation Minister Kadakampally Surendran has said.
Mr. Surendran and federation chairman M. Mehboob told reporters here on Wednesday that essential commodities would be sold at subsidised rates through 2,575 markets in 941 panchayats and 691 markets in corporations and municipalities as well as 196 Triveni stores and 15 mobile Triveni outlets. As many as 26,000 tonnes of subsidised commodities have been procured for ₹120 crore and 6,000 tonnes of non-subsidised commodities stored for selling through the markets. A sum of ₹75 crore has been given as advance to suppliers of commodities.
All essential commodities, including rice and sugar, would be sold through markets. Ration card holders would have to furnish their cards for purchase at the outlets. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would inaugurate the markets at a function to be held here on Thursday evening.
Free kits
The State government will distribute free festival kits to 1.5 lakh Scheduled Tribe families this Onam. Tribal women and men will receive free traditional clothing priced at ₹815 and ₹670 respectively.
The festival kit will comprise sizeable portions of rice (15 kg), green gram (500 gm), sugar (500 gm), powdered chilli (200 gm), jaggery (500 gm). coconut oil (1 kg), iodised salt (1 kg) and tea (200 gm).
The government has earmarked ₹20 crore for the scheme.
