Thiruvananthapuram: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob announced that this year’s Onam fairs in the state will begin on August 8. The distribution of Onam kits will start on August 10. Free Onam kits will be provided to yellow ration cardholders (AAY) and residents of various welfare institutions this year. The kit will contain 16 items. The minister stated that all essential items for the Onam feast will be included in the kit. A total of 6,09,305 free Onam kits will be distributed this time. Containing 16 essential items including a cloth bag, the cost per kit is estimated at approximately ₹854. Onam trade fairs will also commence on August 6.
The minister also stated that the kit distribution will be completed by August 25. For the Onam season, 1,65,932 metric tonnes of rice and 24,506 metric tonnes of wheat will be brought to the market. Special rice distribution for the non-priority category will begin next month. Blue cardholders will receive 3 kg of rice at ₹10.90 per kg and 2 kg of wheat at ₹8.70.
An emergency assistance of ₹253 crore has been sanctioned to Supplyco to step up the distribution of Onam kits and the operation of Onam fairs this year. Out of this, ₹200 crore has been sanctioned for market intervention and ₹53 crore for providing free Onam kits. The minister added that no previous government had allocated such a large sum to the department at one time. As part of market intervention, Supplyco will organize Onam Mega Trade Fairs in 3 districts, Onam District Fairs in 11 districts, and Onam Markets in 126 assembly constituencies this year. Onam Mega Trade Fairs will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode from August 8 to 25. The Onam District Fairs in 11 districts will take place from August 16 to 25.
During the two-month tenure of this government, a total of ₹448.05 crore has been allocated to the Food and Civil Supplies Department so far. This amount was sanctioned due to the special interest taken by Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. In contrast, the previous government allocated a total of only ₹700 crore during the 2025-26 financial year, which included ₹273 crore for market intervention (including ₹53 crore for free kit distribution), ₹154.79 crore as state incentive bonus for paddy procurement, and ₹202.6 million (₹20.26 crore) for transport charges.
The minister noted that the Food Department achieved a record-breaking milestone in its initial goal as part of the state government’s 100-day action plan. Out of a total of 76,338 online applications received, 73,024 were approved and priority ration cards were issued, marking an all-time record. Among the rest, 1,353 applications were returned for submitting adequate documents, and 2,011 were rejected.
Free ration distribution for the 73,024 new priority cardholders will begin on the 3rd of next month. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan will inaugurate the initiative. To receive applications from more deserving beneficiaries, a potential list has been filtered ward-wise from the RCMS database and shared with ward members and CDSs. Instructions have been issued to take necessary steps to identify eligible individuals and ensure their applications are submitted.
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