The State Cooperative Department will run 1,800 Onam markets across Kerala, selling essentials at 30–50% lower rates to curb festive inflation.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Cooperative Department will open 1,800 special Onam mega fairs across Kerala from August 26 to September 4, aiming to check inflation and ensure affordable prices during the festival season.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level programme at 5.30 pm, with Minister VN Vasavan presiding. The markets are being organised under the leadership of Consumerfed, in association with Triveni supermarkets, district wholesale cooperatives, primary agricultural societies, SC/ST cooperatives, and fishermen’s cooperatives.
The government will provide 13 essential commodities, including rice, sugar, pulses, chillies, coriander, and coconut oil, at subsidised rates. Purchases will be linked to ration card verification, with prices set 30–50% lower than market rates. In addition, other festival essentials will be sold at discounts of 10–40%, even without subsidy.
Consumerfed has fixed a sales target of ₹400 crore, evenly divided between subsidised and non-subsidised goods. Subsidised sales alone are expected to save consumers around ₹100 crore, while an additional ₹100 crore in benefits is anticipated as private traders lower prices in response to the government’s market intervention.
Some subsidised products: Jaya, Kuruva and Matta rice at ₹33 per kg, raw rice at ₹29, sugar at ₹34.65, coconut oil at ₹349 per litre (half subsidised), green gram at ₹90, Bengal gram at ₹65, urad dal at ₹90, cowpea at ₹70, toor dal at ₹93, Guntur chilli at ₹115.50, and coriander at ₹40.95 for 500 gm.
Discounted non-subsidised items such as semiya, palada mix, onions, shallots, curry powders, and rice flour will also be sold. Around ₹50 crore worth of cooperative-produced coconut oil will be made available with assured quality.
To ensure timely distribution, officials have drawn up a detailed supply timetable and deployed joint registrars and cooperative officers in each district to oversee operations and maintain transparency.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.