Kerala launches ₹448 crore Onam kit distribution to curb price spikes

The Kerala state government announced a ₹448 crore festival package to keep essential food prices stable during the Onam celebrations. From August 10 to August 20, free Onam kits containing 16 staple items will be handed out to more than six lakh yellow‑ration‑card holders and residents of welfare institutions. The package allocates ₹273 crore for market intervention to stabilise commodity prices and ₹154 crore as a paddy‑procurement bonus to support farmers and ensure grain supplies.

At the same time, officials and market observers warned of rising prices for rice and several vegetables ahead of the festival. Rice costs have risen by up to ₹8 per kilogram, while onions and brinjals have also climbed. The state attributes the price pressure to erratic weather affecting crops and external factors such as the war in West Asia, prompting the intervention measures to protect consumers during Kerala’s biggest cultural event.