Thiruvananthapuram: Supplyco outlets will provide an additional 20 kg of rice at ₹25 per kg to white ration card holders, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies of Kerala G R Anil announced. This is in addition to the 8 kg of subsidised rice already available at Supplyco.

Through ration shops this month, white card holders are also being given 15 kg rice and blue card holders an additional 10 kg rice apart from their usual quota. Thus, a white card holder can receive up to 43 kg rice this month, the minister said.

The minister was inaugurating the statewide distribution of free Onam kits for yellow card holders and residents of welfare institutions. A total of 6,32,910 free kits will be distributed.

The Onam kit contains 14 items, including sugar, coconut oil, toor dal, green gram dal, cowpea, cashew nuts, Milma ghee, Gold tea, payasam mix, sambar powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and salt.

Distribution of free kits began today through ration shops. Though the aim is to complete distribution by September 2, kits will also be available on September 3 and 4 to avoid overcrowding, Minister Anil said.

Vattiyoorkavu MLA V K Prasanth presided over the function. District panchayat president D Suresh Kumar, deputy mayor P K Raju, Vilappil Radhakrishnan, K Hima, and S R Smita also spoke.

Supplyco Onam Fair begins
The Supplyco Onam Fair and the mobile Onam markets have started in Kottayam district.

The Onam fairs are being held at 8 Supplyco supermarkets, while mobile Onam markets will reach various centres in 9 Assembly constituencies of the district.

The Onam fairs are at supermarkets in Ettumanoor, Changanassery, Erattupetta, Puthuppally, Pala, Vaikom, Kaduthuruthy and also at the Ponkunam People’s Bazaar. They will function from 10 am to 8 pm. The mobile Onam markets will operate from 9.30 am to 7 pm at different locations.