Kerala government sanctions Rs 100 crore to control price rise

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government today earmarked about Rs 100 crore for open market intervention during the coming Onam festival season to check prices of essential commodities.

It decided to distribute Onam kits containing food articles free of cost to 20 lakh BPL families and also one kg sugar at a subsidised rate to all 83 lakh ration card holders in the state.

Besides this, 75 lakh school students would get 25 kg of rice free of cost during Onam festival, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

State run Civil Supplies Corporation has been given Rs 64 crores, Consumerfed Rs.25 crore and Horticulture Rs seven crore, he said.