Thiruvananthapuram: Over 1.5 lakh scheduled tribe families and 14,800 primitive tribal families in the state will receive special Onam gifts from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan this festival season. The gifts comprising onam kit and ‘onakodi’ are being purchased using funds from the chief minister’s distress relief fund. About 1.5 lakh tribal families will be gifted onam kits comprising rice, pulses, coconut oil and other essential commodities.
The menfolk of primitive tribal communities will be gifted the traditional ‘kasavu double mundu’ along with ‘veshti’ and the women will be provided ‘kasavu settu mundu’ and saree. The government is spending Rs 12.8 crore for the scheme to help tribals celebrate the festival.
While Onam kits would be procured from Civil Supplies Department by paying advance money, ‘onakodi’ is being bought from Hantex by paying 50 per cent amount in advance. Pinarayi has directed officials to ensure that onam kit and ‘onakodi’ reach the tribal families much ahead of the Onam festival.
