Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government loosened its purse strings this Onam season, spending nearly ₹20,000 crore to ensure that festive cheer reached every household. The expenditure covered salaries, pensions, welfare benefits, festival allowances, and market interventions to keep essential commodities affordable.

Of the total, ₹12,100 crore was disbursed towards salaries, pensions, bonuses, and allowances for government employees and pensioners. Another ₹1,800 crore was earmarked for welfare pensions, benefiting nearly 62 lakh people.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal said the government’s timely interventions helped ease the financial burden on families during Onam. “All families in the state have benefitted from the government’s steps to make Onam festivities affordable. The effective market intervention programmes helped in controlling prices of commodities,” he said.

A major highlight was the ₹34.29 crore free food kit distribution for 6.03 lakh AAY card holders, each kit packed with 15 items. Festival allowances were also raised for thousands of workers under various government schemes. ASHA workers received ₹1,450 (up from ₹1,200), while Anganwadi workers, Balavadi helpers, ayahs, pre-primary teachers, and BUDS school staff were also covered under revised allowances. Noon meal workers got ₹1,550, while lifeguards, SC/ST promoters, and Homeguards were given ₹1,460 each.

To ensure affordable shopping during the season, the government allotted ₹262 crore to Supplyco and Consumerfed for subsidised sales through Onam fairs across districts and constituencies. The KSRTC too received ₹122 crore for salaries and bonuses, allowing the corporation to give its employees a ₹3,000 Onam bonus.