Kerala government gears up for Onam

Thiruvananthapuram: LDF government on Wednesday swung into Onam mode announcing a slew of decisions for festival season beginning shortly. The Cabinet also decided to disburse welfare pensions including dues worth Rs 3000 crore shortly.

As many as 1464 Onam fairs including 1281 mini fairs will be held across the state, district and taluk headquarters. Special mini onam fairs will be held in 38 panchayats which do not have Maveli stores.

Besides Onam fairs, 1350 vegetable fairs would be opened of which 998 would be set up by agriculture department and 155 by horticorp. As many as 91 centres will be function along the national high way.

Apart from Onam kits, each student will be given 5 kg of rice under the Mid Day Meal Scheme and special Onam kits for tribal children. APL card holders who are entitled to 8 kg rice will get additional 2 kg for which 6025 metric tonnes of rice will be required.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Rs 150 crore had been set aside for market intervention 2016-17 budget of which Rs 81.42 crore will be given to Supplyco during Onam.

Chief Secretary to will hold talks with oil companies to ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG during festival season.

Squads will be constituted at district, taluk level to check hoarding and price rise. Telephone numbes will be made available for people to lodge complaints about hoarding, fleecing and quality. The functioning of price monitoring cell at Civil Supplies Commissionerate will be strengthened.

Onam festival at Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 3:
The state government will organise a grand Onam festival at Rashtrpati Bhawan in which President, Vice President , Prime Minisrter, union ministers, MPs, ministers from Kerala and other officials will take part .

The programme will feature traditional art forms of the state and special Ona Sadya will also be organised on the occasion.