THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister KN Balagopal has announced that the government will spend Rs 19,000 crore as a relief to various categories and marketing during Onam, amid the severe economic crisis. State government is finding and spending such a high amount on its own when the central government is not providing adequate financial allocation or loan approval to Kerala. Aid has been distributed to many sections and all this will be completed within this week, minister informed.

60 lakh people were given social security pensions and 13 lakh government employees and pensioners were given bonuses, salary advances and Festival allowance. 46 crore will be distributed to 4.6 lakh rural and urban NREGA workers at Rs 1000 each. 24 crores were given as a bonus in the lottery sector. The bonus for Lottery Welfare Board members is Rs.6000. Welfare pensioners have a festival allowance of Rs.2000. 25 crores were given to handloom workers in connection with uniforms. 43 crores were given to the Cashew Board to secure cashews for the opening of cashew factories. 30 crore was also allotted to KSRTC. 70 crores for pension and 40 crores for salary were given earlier this month. 50 crore has been earmarked to pay the salaries of school cooks including for August on the occasion of Onam. 25 crores assistance for rubber subsidy, 6 crores for Texfed, 10 crores for Textile Corporation and 5 crores for coir sector. The income support scheme for traditional sector workers also provides special assistance for Onam. 2000 rupees financial assistance and Onam kit was ensured for the workers in the plantations that are not functioning.

As part of market intervention, Consumerfed has provided the first tranche of subsidy assistance to start 1500 Onachanthas. Earlier, 32.6 crores were sanctioned for Onam kit distribution and 70 crores for Supplyco. More funds will be made available. Of the 1200 crores of paddy procurement, less than 200 crores are outstanding debt. The minister also informed that the money will be made available immediately by removing the technical hurdles related to the bank.